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OF  THE 

Theological    Seminary, 

PRTNCETON,  N.  J. 

BX  9339  .A6  L5  1840 

Life  and  death  of  the  Rev. 
Joseph  Alleine — 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2009  with  funding  from 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary  Library 


http://www.archive.org/details/lifedeathofrevjoOObaxt 


4» 


LIFE    AND    DEATH 


OF    THj: 

REV.  JOSEPH  IlLEINE,  A.  B. 


AUTHOR  OF  "an  ALARM  TO  THE  UNCONVERTED,"  &C. 

^VRITTE^r  by       /^ 
THE  REV.  RICHARD  BAXTER, 
HIS  WIDOW,  MRS.  THEODOSIA  ALLEINE, 

AND  OTHER  PERSONS, 
TO     WHICH     ARE     ADDED,     HIS 

CHRISTIAN    LETTEKS, 

FULL    OF    SPIRITUAL    INSTRUCTIONS, 

TENDING    TO    THE   PROMOTING    OF    THE    POWER    OF   GODLINESS,  BOTH   IN 
PERSONS    AND   FAMILIES. 


WITH   A    RECOMMENDATORY   PREFACE   BY 

ALEXANDER    DUFF,    D.D., 

ONE  OF  THE  CHURCH  OF  SCOTLAND'S  MISSIONARIES  TO  INDIA. 


FRO]\I    THE    LAST   EDINBURGH    EDITION. 

NEW- YORK : 
ROBERT    CARTER, 

53  CANAL-STREET. 

1840. 


SAMUEL  ADAMS,  PRINTER,  CORNER  OF  ANN  AND  GOLD-STREETS. 


RECOMMENDATORY  PREFACE. 


The  followiug  work  consists  of  the  Life  and  Letters  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Alleine,  the  author  of  the  celebrated 
"  Alarm  to  the  Unconverted." 

In  an  age  when  high-sounding  profession  is  so  apt  to  be 
substituted  for  self-denying  action,  and  an  outward  life  of 
boisterous  activity  in  defending  the  bulwarks  of  Zion  is  so 
apt  to  supercede  the  inward  life  of  spiritual  enjoyment  and 
communion  with  the  God  of  Zion,  I  know  not  a  more  sea- 
sonable or  precious  boon  that  can  be  conferred  on  the  Church 
of  Christ  than  the  reprint  of  this  rare  and  unique  volume, 
— containing,  as  it  does,  the  life  and  letters  of  one  of  the 
holiest  and  most  devoted  men  that  ever  appeared  as  a  leader 
in  the  army  of  the  faithful. 

"N^VTiat  a  rich  variety  of  gifts  and  graces  did  this  eminent 
servant  of  God  possess,  and  how  harmoniously  blended! 

What  solidity  of  understanding  and  ripeness  of  judg- 
ment. What  clear,  sound,  and  comprehensive  views  of 
evangelical  truth.  What  calm,  yet  fervent  devotion — what 
all-pervading,  yet  enlivening  seriousness.  What  transport- 
ing delight  in  secret  meditation,  prayer,  and  thanksgiving. 
^tWiat  an  almost  intuitive  acquaintance  with  the  labyrinthine 
windings   of  a  heart  that  is  deceitful  above  all  things  and 


IV  RECOMMENDATORY    PREFACE. 

desperately  wicked,  and  what  a  searching  power  in  expos- 
ing its  ingenious   subterfuges.     What  penetrating  spiritual 
sagacity  in   detecting  Satan's  manifold   devices,  and  what 
experienced  wisdom  in  directing  to  the  appropriate  weapons 
of  defence  in  the  armoury  of  heaven.     What  holy  skill  in 
expounding  the  word  of  God,  and  what  undaunted  faithful- 
ness in  applying  it  to  the  endlessly  diversified  states  of  the 
human  soul.     What  inextinguishable  zeal — what  ceaseless 
activities  in   his   Master's    service.      What   unquenchable 
thirstings  after  the  conversion  of  lost  sinners — what  unslum- 
bering  watchfulness  in  warning  and  edifying  saints.    What 
profound  humility  and   self-abasement  in  the  sight  of  God. 
What  patience  and  forbearance — what  meekness  and  gene- 
rosity— what  affability  and  moderation — what  a  peace-mak- 
ing kindness  of  disposition — what  a  melting  tenderness  of 
address,  in  his  intercourse  with  man.     What  noble  self-de- 
nial— what  heroic  self-sacrifice.     What  cheerfulness  of  re- 
signation in  the  midst  of  cruel  sufferings,  bonds,  and  im- 
prisonment.    What  sublime  majesty  of  spirit  in  the  season 
of  approaching  dissolution.     What  triumphant  faith — what 
tranquil,  yet  rapturous  joy.     What  ardent  longings  to  bask 
in  the  cloudless  beamings  of  the  Eternal  Sun  ! 

Christian  Reader !  Are  you  tempted  to  doubt  whether  this 
be  not  an  exaggerated  portraiture  of  the  intellectual  and 
spiritual  endowments  of  Joseph  Alleine  ?  If  so,  I  can  on- 
ly beseech  you  with  all  earnestness,  in  the  language  of  Phi- 
lip, to  "come  and  see."  I  beseech  you  to  come  and  prcryer- 
fully  peruse  the  whole  of  this  intensely  interesting  volume.  And 
after  having  done  so,  you  may  be  prepared  to  say  whether 
the  half  has  been  told  you. 


RECOMMENDATORY    PREFACE.  V 

But,  Christian  Reader,  bear  in  mind  that  it  is  not  in  or- 
der to  extort  from  you  a  barren  admiration  of  the  character 
and  attainments  of  a  fellow-mortal,  however  lofty,  that  this 
language  of  urgent  invitation  is  employed.  Oh  !  no.  Such  a 
result  were  worse  than  idle  and  unprofitable  ;  it  were  idola- 
trous, and  therefore  God-dishonouring. 

One  grand  object  is  to  arouse  and  quicken,  and  humble 
you.  Should  the  perusal  of  this  Volume  impress  your  mind, 
in  any  proportionable  degree,  as  it  has  impressed  the  writer 
of  these  lines,  it  will  convict  you  of  an  unexpected  and 
almost  incredible  amount  of  shortcomings  ; — it  will  probe 
to  the  quick  many  a  festering  wound,  and  bruise,  and  pu- 
trefying sore  : — it  will  strip  of  its  covering  and  lay  bare 
many  a  lurking  source  of  self-deception  ; — it  will  sink  you 
a  thousand  fathom  down  in  your  own  estimation  : — it  will 
drive  you  with  lowlier  prostration  of  spirit  than  ever  to  the 
foot  of  the  Cross.  And  if  this  be  the  effect  produced  on 
your  mind,  rest  assured  that  the  lowest  depth  of  self-humili- 
ation before  God,  will  prove  but  the  threshold  to  the  noblest 
height  of  exaltation  in  the  Lord,  your  Righteousness. 

Another  grand  object,  therefore,  is  to  purify,  and  enlarge, 
and  exalt  you  to  "  the  stature  of  a  perfect  man  in  Christ 
Jesus."  What  ^'  a  burning  and  a  shining  light "  was  Alleine 
in  the  midst  of  a  dark,  crooked,  and  perverse  generation  ! 
And  what  divine  grace  made  him,  may  not  divine  grace 
make  you.  Christian  reader  1  And  should  the  perusal  of 
this  volume  prove  the  means,  through  God's  blessing,  of  en- 
ticing you  to  strive  and  imitate  the  bright  example  of  living 
Christianity  which  it  portrays,  in  as  far  as  it  is  in  imitation 
of  the  divine  original — Christ — the  all-perfect  exemplar  of 

1* 


VI  RECOMMENDATORY    TREFACE. 

his  people — the  chief  among  ten  thousand  and  altogethe  r 
lovely, — yours  will  be  a  rich  reward  now,  and  an  ample 
revenue  of  glory  hereafter. 

Why  is  it  that  the  Church  of  Christ  has  been  for  ages  and 
generations  studded  with  such  poor,  shrunken,  sapless,  life- 
less forms  ?  Because  there  is  a  foul  and  treasonable  spirit 
abroad,  that  leads  the  vast  majority  of  nominal  professors  to 
strive  how  far  they  can  descend  in  mingling  with  the  smoke 
and  dust  of  perishable  vanities,  without  wholly  forfeiting 
the  character  of  Christians  ; — instead  of  striving  how  far 
they  rise  aloft  to  the  altitude  of  a  '^walk  and  conversation 
in  heaven,"  without,  at  the  same  time,  ceasing  to  discharge 
any  of  the  best  and  noblest  functions  of  humanity  on  earth. 
In  this  respect,  what  an  almost  unparalleled  model  is  pre- 
sented in  the  life  and  labours  of  Joseph  AUeine ! 

Again,  why  is  it  that,  in  our  day,  we  hear  men  so  seldom 
or  so  languidly  discourse  of  the  comforts  of  Christ,  the  con- 
solations of  the  Spirit,  and  the  joys  of  the  Gospel,  so  em- 
phatically pronounced  by  Heaven  itself  to  be  "  glad  tidings  ?' 
Because  the  grace  and  gift  of  faith  is  in  general  so  feeble 
and  staggering, — because  the  dominant  fashion  is  to  specu- 
late ingeniously,  and  talk  fluently,  about  faith  and  the  things 
of  faith,  instead  of  vigorously  acting  faith  and  appropriating 
the  things  of  faith,  throughout  the  wide  domain  of  Christian 
experience  and  practice.  This,  this  must  be  the  reason, 
why  we  so  often  find  even  the  best  of  men  in  our  day,  lying 
half  torpid  in  a  freezing  atmosphere,  or  creeping  mournful- 
ly along,  in  the  dark  vale  of  sighs  and  groans,  and  tears  and 
complainings,  instead  of  boldly  soaring  on  Faith's  pinions 
to  the  warm  and  sunny  regions  that  gladden  the  summits  of 


RECOMMENDATORY    PREFACE.  Vll 

the  "  delectable  mountains."  How  strongly  contrasted  is 
all  this  with  the  SAveet,  fervid,  ecstatic  utterances  of  faith, 
from  the  lips  and  pen  of  Joseph  Alleine  I 

His  truly  was  that  elevating,  ennobling  faith  which  is,  in 
a  divine  sense,  *Uhe  substance  of  things  hoped  for,  the  evi- 
dence of  things  not  seen."  He  listened  to  the  voice  of  his 
Redeemer,  saying,  "Fear  not :  I  am  he  that  liveth,  and  was 
dead  ;  and  behold  I  am  alive  for  ever  more  :  and  I  have  the 
keys  of  hell  and  death,- — and  because  I  live,  ye  shall  live 
also."  This  gracious  declaration  of  the  compassionate  Al- 
mighty, Redeemer,  our  Author  strongly  believed,  and  the 
object  of  its  assurance  he  eagerly  grasped  as  his  own, — and 
therefore  did  he  feel  joyously  and  speak  strongly.  And  why 
should  he  not?  In  the  midst  of  the  darkness  and  gloom, 
the  fears  and  the  doubtings,  the  shifting  and  the  frenzies,  of 
a  world  lying  in  wickedness,  what  infinite  consolations  are 
such  words  calculated  to  convey  ?  In  exchange  for  life  with 
its  delusive  hopes  and  shadowy  enjoyments,  and  death  with 
its  convulsive  struggles  and  ghastly  terrors, —  to  be  trans- 
ported to  the  realms  of  day, — to  be  enrolled  as  a  citizen  in 
the  New  Jerusalem, — to  be  endowed  with  the  prerogatives 
of  royalty,  among  thrones  and  dominions,  principalities  and 
powers, — to  become  as  it  were  like  the  great  I  Am,  an  in- 
habitant of  Eternity, — an  immeasureable  incomprehensible 
eternity  of  light  and  life,  and  love  and  joy  ! — Oh,  is  not 
such  a  prospect  the  very  consummation  of  blessedness ! 
And  yet,  this  was  the  very  prospect  which  our  Author  so 
constantly  laboured  to  realize,  through  faith,  as  already  his 
own  ; — and  therefore  was  he  enabled  to  rejoice  with  a  joy 
unspeakable  and  full  of  glory. 


Vlll  RECOMMENDATORY    PREFACE. 

And  now,  Christian  reader,  whatever  ground  or  reason 
you  have  for  believing  that  you  are  a  Christian  at  all,  in  the 
proper  sense  of  that  term,  have  you  not  precisely  the  same 
ground  and  reason  for  believing  with  all  your  mind  and 
strength,  that  heaven  with  its  "purchased  possession"  is 
yours  ?  This  was  the  faith  of  Joseph  AUeine.  And  that 
the  perusal  of  this  volume  may  be  instrumental,  through  the 
agency  of  the  Divine  Spirit,  in  leading  you  to  the  like  un- 
wavering Faith,  with  its  consequent  inheritance  of  soul-rav- 
ishing joy,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  your  friend  and  brother 
in  the  Lord  our  Redeemer, 

ALEXANDER  DUFF. 


PREFACE 

TO    THE 

SECOND  EDINBURGH  EDITION 


In  a  new  edition  of  "  the  Life  and  Christian  Letters  of 
the  Rev.  Joseph  Alleine,"  no  apology  from  the  person 
who  respectfully  presents  it,  can  be  required.  The  worthy 
subject  of  the  following  memoir,  is  embalmed  in  the  mem- 
ory of  the  just ;  and  his  name  can  receive  no  additional 
celebrity  from  the  honourable  mention  of  it  by  the  writer 
of  this  preface.  As  an  eminent  christian  and  a  powerful 
and  eloquent  writer,  his  praise  has  long  been  in  all  the 
churches.  His  unbiassed  biographers  bear  abundant  testi- 
mony to  his  exalted  piety;  and  in  his  literary  labours  he 
was,  according  to  the  best  acceptation  of  the  word,  uncom- 
monly successful. 

The  perusal  of  his  "Alarm  to  the  Unconverted"  has 
been  blessed  to  thousands  of  persons  ;  and  the  editions 
through  which  it  has  passed  have  been  exceedingly  numer- 
ous. If  a  favourable  judgment  may  be  pronounced  on  a 
work  from  the  popularity  which  it  obtains,  and  if  utility  be 
the   proper  test  of  merit,  then   may  the  '^  Alarm"  claim  a 


X  PREFACE. 

high  degree  of  attentio  n,  aud  its  author  may  be  justly  rank- 
ed among  those  men  of  genius  whose  pious  exertions  have 
procured  them  the  title  of  benefactors  :  For,  if  we  ex- 
cept the  "  Pilgrim's  Progress"  and  "  Robinson  Crusoe," 
scarcely  has  any  treatise  in  the  English  Tongue,  whether 
allegorical  or  in  the  form  of  history,  had  a  circulation 
more  extensive  and  beneficial  than  this  serious  and  sensible 
production." 

His  "  Call  to  Archippus"  is  considered  a  master-piece 
of  pathetic  argumentation.  On  some  of  the  most  useful 
and  pious  Nonconformist  ministers,  it  operated  as  an  in- 
centive to  continue  their  labours  of  love  among  the  scatter- 
ed sheep  of  their  respective  flocks,  and  patiently  to  take  the" 
consequence  of  it — the  suffering  for  righteousness'  sake. 

Nor  have  his  "  Christian  Letters"  come  down  to  the 
present  times,  without  receiving  some  due  portion  of  enco- 
mium. They  have  always  since  their  first  publication  been 
regarded,  by  the  pious,  as  models  of  ministerial  faithfulness 
and  christian  eloquence.  In  that  heavenly  unction  and 
moving  tenderness  which  breathe  from  his  letters,  he  has 
not  been  equalled  by  any  of  the  Christian  Fathers  :  Only 
by  the  sacred  penmen  themselves  is  he  excelled  in  these 
qualities.  Many  weighty  authorities  might  be  adduced  in 
support  of  this  opinion  :  but  two  may  now  suffice.  That 
admirable  man  and  great  divine,  the  Rev.  Richard  Baxter, 
says  of  him,  "  Oh  !  how  happy  were  the  church  of  God,  if 
great  understanding  and  fervent  zeal  were  ordinarily  as  well 
conjoined,  as  they  were  in  this  worthy  man. 

"  And  many  have  much  reading,  and  plentiful  materials 
for  learning,  who  yet   were  never  truly  learned,  as  being 


PREFACE.  XI 

injudicious^  and  never  having  well  digested  what  they  read 
into  the  habits  of  solid  understanding.  But  so  was  it  not 
with  this  our  brother,  as  his  very  letters  fully  witness  :  How 
clearly  and  solidly  doth  he  resolve  the  great  question  which 
he  speaketh  to,  as  one  that  had  theology,  not  in  his  books 
only,  but  in  his  head  and  heart !" 

The  late  Rev.  John  Wesley,  a  man  every  way  qualified 
to  judge  in  this  matter,  has  given  the  following  character  of 
them,  which  is  the  more  to  be  relied  upon,  for  disinterest- 
edness and  impartiality,  on  account  of  the  known  difterence 
of  sentiment  between  him  and  Mr.  Alleine,  in  some  pe- 
culiar points  of  doctrine,  traces  of  which  will  be  perceived 
in  a  few  phrases  adopted  in  this  his  correspondence : 

"  The  Letters  of  Mr.  Samuel  Rutherford  have  been 
generally  admired  by  all  the  children  of  God,  into  whose 
hands  they  have  fallen,  for  the  vein  of  piety,  trust  in  God, 
and  holy  zeal,  which  run  through  them.  The  same  piety, 
zeal,  and  confidence  in  God,  shine  through  all  the  letters  of 
Mr.  Alleine  :  so  that  in  this  respect  he  may  well  be  styled 
The  English  Rutherford.  But  yet  there  is  a  very  discern- 
ible difference  between  them  :  in  piety  and  fervour  of  spirit 
they  are  the  same  :  but  the  fervour  of  the  one  more  resem- 
bles that  of  St.  Paul ;  of  the  other,  that  of  St.  John.  They 
were  both  men  of  the  most  intrepid  courage  :  but  in  love 
Mr.  Alleine  has  the  pre-eminence.  He  seems  to  excel  in 
bowels  of  mercy,  meekness,  gentleness,  in  tenderness,  mild- 
ness, and  sweetness  of  spirit,  even  to  his  bitterest  enemies. 
I  do  not  therefore  scruple  to  give  these  Letters  the  prefer- 
ence, even  to  Mr.  Rutherford's  :  as  expressing  in  a  stil 
higher  degree,  the  love  that  is  long-suffering  and  kind,  which 


Xn  PREFACE. 

is  not  provoked,  which  thinketh  do  evil,  and  which  hopeth, 
believeth,  and  endureth  all  things." 

The  Introductory  Chapter  to  this  "  Account  of  his  Life 
and  Death"  was  the  performance  of  the  Rev.  Richard 
Baxter.  It  is  a  piece  of  exquisite  composition,  and  con- 
tains a  fine  eulogy  on  Mr.  Alleine,  and  a  disquisition  on 
biography  and  sacred  history,  in  which  the  acumen  of  his 
wit  and  the  soundness  of  his  judgment  are  happily  display- 
ed. The  third  Chapter  was  written  by  his  father- in  law, 
Mr.  Richard  Alleine,  and  the  fourtk  by  his  worthy  vicar, 
the  Rev.  George  Newton.  His  widow,  Mrs.  Theodo- 
siA  Alleine,  wrote  the  sixth,  which  is  a  remarkably  simple 
and  interesting  narrative  ;  and  his  intimate  acquaintance, 
the  Rev.  Richard  Fairclough,  the  ninth.  The  other 
chapters  were  the  productions  of  several  of  his  most  familiar 
friends.  The  remaining  portion,  which  is  the  largest  part 
of  the  volume,  is  occupied  by  that  excellent  collection  of  his 
pastoral  correspondence  which  has  been  described  above, 
and  is  entitled  "  Christian  Letters."  What  Richard  Bax- 
ter introduced  and  recommended,  and  Joseph  Alleine 
wrote,  will  not  appear  despicable  to  those  who  are  gifted 
with  the  pleasing  skill  of  appreciating  intellectual  and  spir- 
itual excellence. 

In  this  impression  it  has  been  the  care  of  the  editor  to 
translate  all  the  Latin  and  Greek  quotations,  and  to  place 
them  at  the  bottom  of  each  page  where  they  occur.  The 
original  edition  of  1672  has  been  scrupulously  followed 
throughout,  except  in  the  orthography  of  a  few  words,  such 
as  rejoyce,  jlie,  meer,  onely,  ^-c.  which  are  changed  into  re- 
joice^Jly,  mere,  only,  c^-c. — It  was  the  custom  of  that  age  for 


PREFACE.  Xlll 

the  Past  tense  of  verbs,  which  is  sometimes  called  the  Im- 
perfect, to  usurp  the  place  and  function  of^  the  perfect  parti- 
ciple :  Thus  it  was  generally  said,  "  I  am  forgot,"  instead 
of  forgotten.  Such  participles  are  here  rectified,  especially 
in  the  latter  part  of  the  volume. — The  copulative  word 
"  and,"  when  connecting  words  which  were  nearly  synony- 
mous,  was  rarely  suffered  to  possess  any  power  in  influenc 
ing  the  verb,  to  which  such  words  were  joint  nominatives, 
in  the  plural  number  :  Thus  it  was  neither  unusual  nor  ac- 
counted inelegant  to  say,  "  My  truth  and  faithfulness  hath 
never  failed."  Similar  instances  of  this  construction  may 
be  found  in  the  authorised  English  translation  of  the  Scrip- 
tures. Though  apparent  breaches  of  what  we  now  call  good 
grammar,  such  expressions  remain  in  this  edition,  without 
the  trifling  amendment  which  would  render  them  corrrect, 
according  to  modern  ideas  of  grammatical  propriety.  A 
copious  table  of  contents  has  been  added. 

The  editor  has  been  thus  explicit  in  mentioning  the  al- 
teration of  a  few  letters,  because  he  thinks  a  reasonable  ac- 
count of  the  most  minute  change  in  an  author's  phraseology 
ought  always  to  be  given  to  the  public.  It  cannot  but  have 
excited  indignation  in  every  honest  breast  to  behold  the 
liberties  which  are  frequently  taken,  in  these  days,  with  au- 
thors whose  works  are  thought  worthy  of  republication. 

Every  literary  man  would  rather  that,  after  his  decease, 
his  grave  were  broken  open,  and  his  bones  left  to  bleach  in 
the  sun,  than  that  his  works,  the  finest  and  most  sensitive 
parts  of  him,  should  be  subjected  to  the  tortures  of  an  igno- 
rant blockhead  or  a  wretched  pedant.     These  observations 


XIV  PREFACE. 

are  not  intended  to  apply  to  extracts,  fairly  made  ;  or  to 
abridgements,  announced  as  such. 

In  addition  to  what  is  said  in  the  following  pages,  respect- 
ing Mr.  Alleine,  it  is  proper  to  mention  that  he  died  in  No- 
vember, 1668,  and  was  buried  in  the  Chancel  of  the  church 
of  St.  Magdalen,  Taunton.  Over  his  grave  was  this  epi- 
taph, engraven  on  stone : 

Hie  jacet  Dominus  Josephus  Alleine, 
Holocaustum  Tauntonense  et  Deo  et  vobis. 
Of  which  A.  Wood  gives  the  following  translation  : 
**  Here  Mr,  Joseph  Alleine  lies. 
To  God  and  you  a  sacrifice." 
In  allusion  to  which  one  of  his  friends  says  of  him,  "  But 
alas !  his  zeal  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  souls, 
made  all  his  strength  a  whole  burnt  sacrifice,  a  sacrifice  as 
truly  devoted  as  if  it  had  been  offered  up  in  the  flames  of 
martyrdom." 


(16) 


CONTENTS. 


Recommendatory  Preface, 
Preface  to  Second  Edinburgh  Edition, 


CHAP.  I. 

Superiority  of  sacred  biography  over  general 


Introduction 

history, 
The  harmony  and  completeness  of  particular  gifts  in  Mr. 

AUeine,       .... 
His  great  diligence  in  private,    . 
Praise  and  thanksgiving  his  natural  strains 
The  character  of  this  history  of  him,  . 
His  writino-s, 


CHAP.  II. 

His  birth,  and  early  indications  of  piety, 

predilection  for  the  Christian  ministry,  and  removal  from 

school  to  the  university, 

studies  there,        ........         ^ 

early  accomplishments,       ...         ... 

The  pleasure  he  had  in  prayer,         ..... 

CHAP.  III. 

An  account  of  his  father, 

What  he  was  himself,  as  a  man,  a  christian,  and  a  minister, 

CHAP.  IV. 

His  delight  in  performing  his  secret  devotions  in  the  open  air, 

moral  character,  and  condescension  to  weak  brethren, 

ministerial  gifts,  and  desire  for  the  conversion  of  souls, 

early  rising  and  excessive  labours,      .         ,         ,         . 

CHAP,  V. 


His  ministerial  course         ,.....• 

Manner  of  going  from  house  to  house,       ,         • 

An  abridgement  of  his  reasons  for  private  family  instruct 
His  faithfulness  in  reproving,  .  ,  .  .  .  • 
Useful  questions  which  he  drew  up  for  daily  examination, 


Paok. 
.  3 
.       9 


21 

25 


31 
34 
35 


37 

37 
39 
40 
41 


45 
45 


50 
51 
53 
55 


55 
55 
57 
61 
63 


XVI 


CONTENTS. 


CHAP.  VI. 

His  great  desire  that  his  way  might  be  plain  to  him  in  the 

matter  of  contbrmity, 

quitting  the  public  situation  which  he  held, 

The  rage  of  the  Justice  against  him,         .... 
His  resolnrion  to  go  to  China  as  a  missionary, 

He  is  a|[)ivi  ended  by  an  officer, 

His  appearance  before  the  Justice  at  his  house, 

behaviour  during  his  confinement,       .... 

preaching  before  his  departure  to  prison,    . 

The  extraordinary  respect  shewn  to  him,  by  his  people,  on 

leaving  Taunton, 

His  lodgings  in  the  prison  of  Ilchcster,  and  the  company  thei-e, 

consecration  of  the  prison, 

indictment  at  the  sessions  and  commitment  again  to 

prison,         .         .         . 

indictment  at  the  assizes,  his  trial  and  sentence, 

studies  and  ministerial  labours  in  confinement,  . 

conduct  to  visiters,  and  to  his  enemies, 

health  in  his  imprisonment, 

release  from  prison,  and  earnestness  in  ministerial  labours 

great  weakness  and  affliction,     .....' 

Warrants  issued  out  airainst  him,     .         .         .         .         ; 

His  determination  to  use  the  mineral  waters  near  Devizes, 
A  thanksgiving  meeting  with  several  ministers  and  friends 
prior  to  his  departure,  ...... 

They  are  interrupted  by  two  justices,  apprehended  and  com- 
mitted to  the  prison  of  Ilchester, 
Exhortation  to  his  fellow-sufferers,     .... 

The  increase  of  his  distempers,  .... 

He  goes  to  the  mineral  wells, 

Is  seized  with  a  fever,  goes  to  Dorchester,  and  loses  the  use  of 
his  limbs,     ........ 

His  carriage  under  affliction,      ..... 

The  kindness  of  the  people  of  Dorchester  to  him, 
His  partial  recovery,  ...... 

aflfectionate  addresses  to  his  friends  from  Taunton, 

return  to  Taunton,       ...... 

——convulsion  fits, 

journey  in  a  horse-litter  to  Bath, 

-charitable  offices  there,         ..... 

-visit  to  Mr.  Bernard's  house  near  Bath, 

last  illness,  and  death,  ..... 

courtship  and  marriage,      .         .         .         .         • 

His  management  of  iiis  I'amily,         .... 
Difficulties  in  fulfilling   his  ministry, 
His  temperance  and  care  for  the  poor, 
The  care  and  provision  of  God  for  him,  . 


CHAP.  VII. 
His  inquiries  into  the  estate  of  those  around  him, 

table  talk, 

assistance  to  those  who  were  in  doubts, 

patience  under  affliction,  .  ... 


110 
HI 
112 
113 


CONTENTS. 


XVii 


CHAP.  VIII. 

His  personal  character,  stature,  and  constitution, 

judgment,  memory,  fancy,  will,  and  affections,  . 

gravity,  affability,  charity,  and  utterance, 

studies,  moderation,  and  humility,     .... 

practice  as  to  church-communion,  and  Judgment  as  to 

obedience  to  authority,         ...... 

loyalty,  and  respect  to  second  table  duties, 

labours  in  the  ministry, 

heroic  spirit,  singular  piety,  and  contempt  of  the  world, 

universal  and  uniform  obedience,        .... 

care  of  his  thoughts  and  ends,  and  delight  in  self-exami- 
nation,          

generous  designs,  delight  in  meditation  and  praise,    . 

time-redeeming  thrift,  ...... 


CHAP.  IX. 

His  consecration  to  God  in  Christ  Jesus, 

divine  love, 

spirit  of  charity  and  meekness, 

rich  assurance  of  his  saving  interest  in  Christ, 


114 
115 
116 
118 

120 
121 
122 
125 

127 

128 
129 
132 


132 
133 
134 
135 


I. 

II. 

III. 

IV. 

V. 

VI. 

VII. 

VIII. 

IX. 
X. 

XI. 

XII. 
XIII 

XIV. 

XV. 

XVf. 

XVII. 

XVIII. 

XTX. 

XX. 

XXI. 

XXII. 


CHRISTIAN  LETTERS. 

To  his  Wife.  On  his  accepting  of  the  curacy  of  Taunton,  139 
To  the  people  of  Taunton,  Preparation  for  suffering,  144 
To  the  same.  Warning  to  professors,  .  ,  146 
A  call  to  the  unconverted,         .         .         .  150 

Trust  in  God  and  be  sincere,    .         .         .  154 

Look  out  of  your  graves  upon  the  world,  157 

Christian  marks  and  duties,  .         .         .  160 

How  to  show  love  to  ministers  and  to 

live  joyfully, 163 

Easy  sufferings,      .....  166 

The  love  of  Christ,          ....  168 

Remember  Christ  crucifiied,  and  crucify 

sin, 171 

Daily  examination,          ....  174 

Motives  and  marks  of  growth,       .         .  176 

Persuasion  to  sinners,  and  comfort  to 

saints, 180 

How  to  live  to  God,          ....  184 

Motives  to  set  ourselves  to  please  God,  .  187 

The  worth  of  holiness,             .         .         .  189 

Try  yourselves  and  rejoice,     ...  193 

The  felicity  of  believers,           .         .         .  196 

What  do  you  more  than  others  "?    .         .  199 

Christian  care,  faith,  and  self-denial.      .  202 

Right  reason  in  suffering,       .         .  '      .  305 


XVlll 


CONTENTS. 


XXIII. 
XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 
XXVII. 

xxviii. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 

XXXII. 
XXXIII. 
XXXIV. 
XXXV. 
XXXVI. 
XXXVII. 
XXXVIII. 
XXXIX. 

XL. 

XLI. 

XLII. 

XLIII. 
XLIV. 


To  the  same.      Counsel  for  salvation, 
■    '  ■'  Examine  whether  you  are  in  the 

faith,       .... 

The  characters  and  privileges  of 

true  believers, 

The  second  coming  of  Christ, 

The  love  of  Christ,    . 

Warning  to  professors  of  their 

danger,    .         :         .         . 
An  admiration  of  the  love  of  God 

Personal  and  family  godliness, 

To  the  People  of  Huntingdon.     He  that  en 

dureth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved, 
To  the  people  of  Luppit.     On  perseverance, 
To  a  Fellow-student.     On  backsliding, 
To  his  wife.     Good  counsel, 

Desires  after  heaven. 

To  a  Friend.      God  is  a  satisfying  portion, 

To  a  person  of  quality.     Be  constant. 

To  his  Cousin.     Have  you  a  treasure  in  heaven ' 

The  concernments  of  our  souls 

to  be  especially  regarded, 

Godly  counsels, 

The  virgin's  care,     . 

To  a  Friend.     Do  all  in  reference  to  God  and 

his  glory,  .     . 

To  a  Minister  in  prison.     Prison  comforts, 

Directions  to  the  Ministers  of  Somersetshire  and 

Wiltshire,  for  the  instructing  of  families,  by 

way  of  catechising, 


Pack. 


211 

214 
217 
219 

222 
226 
229 

238 
241 
244 
246 
247 
250 
253 
255 

257 
259 
262 

264 
267 


273 


AN  ACCOUNT 

OF   THE 

LIFE    AND    DEATH 

OF   THAT 

EXCELLENT    MINISTER    OF    CHRIST 

THE 


REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE,  A.  B. 


AUTHOR   OF     "an  alarm   TO  THK   UNCONVERTED,"   &C. 


THE 

LIFE   AND    DEATH 

OP    THAT 

EXCELLENT  MINISTER  OF  CHRIST, 

THE    REV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 


CHAP.  I. 


As  history  is  both  useful  and   delightful  to   mankind,  so 

Church- Histovij  above  all  hath  the  pre-eminence   in  both. 

For  it  treateth  of  the  greatest  and  most  necessary  subjects. 

It  is  most  eminently  divine,  as  recording  those  works  of  God, 

in  which  he  most  graciously  condescendeth  unto  man  ;  and 

those  actions  of  men,  in  which  they  have  most  nearly  to  do 

with  God  ;  and  treating  of  those  holy  societies,  events,  and 

businesses,  in  which  God's  holiness  is  most  conspicuous,  and 

His  honour  most  concerned  in  the  world.     The  narratives 

of  the  great  victories   and  large  dominions  of  Alexander, 

Caesar,  Tamberlain,  or  such  others,  are  but  the  portraiture 

of  phantasms,  and   the  relation  of  the   dieams  of  vagrant 

imaginations,  or  of  the  lifeless   motions  in   a  puppet-play, 

where  there  is  much  stir  to  little   purpose,  till  the   play   be 

ended  ;  further  than  the  matters  of  God,  and  of  the  church, 

and  men's  everlasting  concernments  are  comprehended  in 

them.     The  report  of  one  soul's   conversion  to   God,  and 

of  the  reformation  of  one   family,  city,  or  church,  and  of 

the    noble   operations  of  the  Blessed  Spirit,  by  which  he 

brings  up  souls  to  God,  and  conquereth  the  world,  thefl  esh, 

and  the  devil ;  the  heavenly  communications  of  God,  unto 

sinners,  for  their  vivification,  illumination,  and  holy  love  to 

3 


23 


THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   I.) 


God  and  to  his  image,  are  so  far  better  than  the  stories  of 
these  grand  murderers  and  tyrants,  and  their  sreat  robberies 
and  murders,  called  conquests,  as  the  diagnostics  of  health 
are  than  those  of  sickness  ;  or,  as  it  is  more  pleasant  to 
read  of  the  building  of  cities,  than  of  their  rtmis  ;  or  of  the 
c^ires  of  a  physician,  than  of  the  hui-ts  done  by  robberies 
and  frays ;  yea,  of  the  healing-  of  immortal  souls,  than  of 
the  over-hasty  destroying  of  men's  bodies,  which  would 
quickly  turn  to  dust  themselves,  if  these  valiant  murderers 
had  but  the  patience  to  stay  the  time. 

And  among  all  parts  of  church-history,  the  lives  of  wise 
and  holy  men  do  seem  to  be  not  least  useful  and  delightful; 
(Which  is  the  reason  why  Satan  hath  so  marvellously  and 
successfully  bestirred  himself,  to  corrupt  this  part  of  history 
with  so  many  impudent  lies  in  the  Popish  legends,  as  might 
render  all  such  narratives  afterwards  contemptible  and  in- 
credible, and  might  destroy  the  ends  :)  Therefore  is  the  sa- 
cred scripture  so  much  historical ;  and  the  Gospel  itself  is 
not  a  volume  of  well-composed  orations,  or  a  system,  or  en- 
cyclopedia of  the  sciences  and  arts  ;  nor  yet  a  great  volume 
of  unnecessary  laws;  but  the  history  of  the  life  and  death 
of  Christ,  and  the  wonderous  works  of  Himself  and  his 
Spirit  in  his  servants,  and  a  record  of  those  brief  laws  and 
doctrines,  which  are  needful  to  the  holiness  and  happiness 
of  man. 

In  the  lives  of  holy  men  we  see  God's  image,  and  the 
beauties  of  holiness,  not  only  in  precept,  but  in  reality  and 
practice ;  not  pictured,  but  in  substance  :  and  though  the 
precepts  and  rules  be  more  perfect  in  their  kind,  as  wanting 
no  degree  or  part,  yet  the  real  impress  and  holiness  in  the 
soul,  is  that  living  image  of  God,  which  is  the  end  of  the 
former,  and  of  which  the  scripture  is  but  the  instrumental 
cause.  And  holiness  in  visible  realities  is  apt  to  affect  the 
world  more  deeply,  than  in  portraiture  and  precept  only. 
Therefore,  we  find  that  Satan  and  his  instrwments,  are  used 
to  do  that  against  the  scriptures  exemplified  in  the  godly, 
which  they  have  not  done  against  the  scriptures  in  them- 
selves :  They  can  bear  the  bare  precepts  of  a  perfect  rule, 
who  cannot  bear  the  very  imperfect  practice  of  them  in  a 
holy  life.  Many  have  burnt  martyrs,  that  could  endure 
good  books.  Living  holiness  most  exciteth  malice  !  Be- 
sides, that  the  best  of  men  have  imperfections,  which  may 
be  a  pretence  for  detraction,  slander,  and  persecution,  when 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  23 

the  sacred  rule  is  not  so  boldly  to  be  accused,  till  they  are 
ripened  in  malignity  and  audacity. 

Many  a  one  can  read  with  reverence  the  life  of  a  dead 
saint,  who  will  neither  imitate  nor  endure  the  living.  And 
I  doubt  not  but  many  can  bear  the  narrative  of  this  holy 
person's  life,  who  could  not  have  endured  to  see  themselves 
condemned  in  the  exercises  of  his  present  holy  zeal. 

And  yet  it  is  not  to  be  denied,  but  that  human  nature 
yet  containeth  such  principles  and  inclinations,  as  give  an 
honourable  testimony  to  goodness  :  For  the  exercises  of 
prudent,  impartial,  equal  virtue,  and  eminent  holiness  in  a 
heavenly  life,  and  in  the  joyful  hopes  of  the  invisible  bless- 
edness, and  in  fervent  love  to  God  and  man,  and  in  an  inno- 
cent life,  and  self-denying  endeavours  to  do  good  to  all,  do 
so  much  convince  and  awe  man's  nature,  and  so  powerfully 
command  approbation  and  honour,  that  Satan  and  bad  men 
could  not  resist  them  ;  were  it  not  that  such  excellent  per- 
sons are  too  rare,  and  that  the  far  greater  number  of  good 
men  are  lamentably  imperfect,  and  tainted  with  many  un- 
lovely faults  ;  and  were  it  not  also  for  two  great  advantages 
that  Satan  layeth  hold  on,  that  is,  men's  strangeness  and 
disacquaintance  with  those  that  are  good,  and  the  slanderous 
reports  of  them  by  others.  And  whoever  noteth  it  shall 
find  that  most  that  ever  hated  and  persecuted  men  of  emi- 
nent holiness,  were  such  as  never  intimately  knew  them, 
but  only  at  a  deceitful  distance,  and  such  as  heard  them  odi- 
ously described  by  lying  tongues. 

And  it  is  not  a  small  benefit  of  this  kind  of  history,  that 
the  weak  and  lame  christians  may  see  such  excellent  exam- 
ples for  their  imitation  ;  and  the  sluggish  and  distempered 
christians  may  have  so  real  and  lively  a  reproof;  and  the 
discouraged  christian  may  see  that  higher  degrees  of  good- 
ness are  indeed  inattainable  ;  and  that  the  dark  and  troub- 
led christian  may  see  the  methods  in  which  God's  Spirit 
doth  work  upon  his  servants,  and  see  that  a  genuine  chris- 
tian life  is  a  life  of  the  greatest  joy  on  earth  ;  and  that  the 
slothful  hypocrite  may  see  that  religion  is  a  serious  busi- 
ness :  and  that  the  factious  christian  may  see  that  a  man 
may  be  eminently  holy  that  is  not  of  his  opinion,  side,  or 
party  ;  and  that  both  the  proud  domineering  Pharisee  may 
see,  that  eminent  piety  is  separated  from  his  traditions,  for- 
malities, ceremonies,  and  pomp  ;  and  the  opinionative  hy- 
pocrite may  see  that  holiness  consisteth  of  something  else, 


24  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   I.  ) 

than  in  circumstantial  and  siding  singularities,  and  in  a 
condemning  of  other  men's  outward  expressions  or  modes 
of  worship,  or  a  boisterous  zeal  against  the  opinions  or  cere- 
monies of  others. 

And  it  is  a  notable  benefit  of  this  kind  of  history,  that 
it  is  fitted  to  insinuate  the  reverence  and  love  of  piety  into 
youn§  unexperienced  persons  :  For  before  they  can  read 
much  of  theological  treatises  with  understanding  or  delight, 
nature  inclineth  them  to  a  pleasure  in  history,  and  so  their 
food  is  sugared  to  their  appetites,  and  profit  is  entertained 
by  delight.  And  nothing  taketh  well  with  the  soul  that  is 
not  pleasant  to  it ;  nor  did  he  ever  know  the  true  way  of 
educating  youth,  or  doing  good  to  any,  that  knew  not  the 
way  of  drawing  them  to  a  pleasedness  and  love  to  good- 
ness :    Omni  tulit  punctnm  qui  miscuit  utile  diilci,* 

On  such  accounts,  we  may  conclude  that  such  men  as 
Melchior  Adamus,  Mr.  Samuel  Clark,  &c.  that  have  served 
the  church  with  this  sort  of  history,  have  done  no  small  or 
useless  service;  which  we  the  easilier  perceive  when  we  re- 
member at  what  rates  now  the  church  would  purchase  a  full 
history  of  the  lives  of  all  the  apostles,  and  all  the  eminent 
pastors  of  the  churches  for  the  first  two  hundred  or  three 
hundred  years  ;  yea,  or  but  of  some  few  of  them.  And  how 
much  of  the  history  of  the  times  they  lived  in,  is  contained 
in  a  just  history  of  such  men's  lives. 

It  were  to  be  wished  that  more  did  as  Thuanus,  at  arge ; 
or  as  Scultetus,  in  his  Curricidum  vitce.  s?/fe,f  at  least ;  or 
yet  as  Junius,  and  many  others,  that  give  us  a  breviate  of 
the  most  considerable  passages  of  their  own  lives  :  Because 
no  man  knoweth  usually  those  intimate  transactions  of  God 
upon  men's  souls,  which  are  the  life  of  such  history,  or  at 
least  no  useless  part.  But  men  are  commonly  supposed  to 
be  so  selfishly  partial,  and  apt  to  over-value  all  their  own, 
and  to  fish  for  applause  ;  and  it  is  so  meet  to  avoid  appear- 
ances of  pride  and  ostentation,  that  few  think  meet  to  take 
this  course.  And  the  next  desirable  is,  that  their  intimate 
friends  would  write  their  lives  at  large,  who  are  best  able ; 
as  Camerarius  hath  done  Melancthon's  :  and  Beza,  Calvin's  ; 
and  as  the  lives  of  Bocholtzer,  Chytrseus,  and  many  more 
are  written. 

*  He  who  has  mixed  the  useful  with  the  pleasant,  has  obtained  the. 
suffrages  (or  approbation)  of  all. 
t  The  short  course  of  his  own  life. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  25 

But  none  of  all  this  must  be  expected  concerning  this  our 
brother  ;  because  he  was  young,  and  taken  away  before  any 
had  thoughts  of  gathering  up  his  words  or  actions  for  any 
such  use ;  those  that  have  done  this  little  being  his  fathers 
and  seniors,  who  looked  to  have  died  long  before  him  ;  and 
because  he  lived  in  a  time  of  trouble,  and  division,  and  sus- 
picion, in  which  every  man  had  great  concernments  of  his 
own  to  mind ;  and  in  which  men  are  afraid  of  praising  the 
holy  servants  of  God,  lest  it  offend  those  that  in  some  thing* 
differed  from  them. 

The  special  excellency  of  this  worthy  man  lay  chiefly  in 
the  harmony  and  completeness  of  such  particular  gifts,  and^ 
all  of  them  in  a  high  degree,  as  use  to  exalt  the  fame  of 
others,  in  whom  some  one  or  few  of  them  is  found.  And 
all  these  in  a  man  so  young,  as  unless  in  one  Joh.  Picus 
Mirandula,  one  Keckerman,  one  Pemble,  in  a  country,  is 
rarely  to  be  found.  Do  you  desire  the  preparatives  of  lan- 
guage and  philosophy  ?  In  these  he  was  eximious,  as  his 
Treatise  Be  Providenfia,  licenced  for  the  press  (of  which 
more  anon)  doth  shew,  with  several  other  manuscripts  of 
like  nature.  How  thoroughly  had  he  searched  the  writings 
of  philosophers  !  How  fully  had  he  found  out  how  much 
natural  reason  doth  attest,  and  speak  for  the  attributes  and 
providenee  of  God,  and  the  principles  of  a  godly  life!  And 
how  much  supernatural  revelation  presupposeth,  and  findeth 
ready  to  entertain  it  and  befriend  it  in  the  light  and  raw  of 
nature!  How  excellently  able  was  he  to  deal  with  the 
naturalist  at  his  own  weapons,  and  to  shame  them  that  call 
religion  an  unproved  or  unreasonable  thing!  No  doubt  it 
was  an  excellent  help  to  his  own  faith,  to  have  so  clear  and 
fiill  a  sight  of  all  those  subsidiary  natural  verities,  which  are 
known  propria  luce*  and  are  out  of  the  reach  of  those  ma- 
lignant suggestions,  by  which  the  temper  is  often  question- 
ing supernatural  truths.  Few  christians,  and  too  fe\y  di- 
vines do  dig  so  deep,  and  proceed  so  wisely,  as  to  take  in  all 
these  natural  helps  ;  but  overpassing  those  presupposed 
verities,  do  oft  leave  themselves  open  to  the  subtile  assaults 
of  the  tempter,  who  knoweth  where  the  breach  is,  and  will 
sometimes  urge  such  objections  on  them,  as  need  a  solution 
by  those  helps  which  they  are  ignorant  of. 

Do  you  look  for  a  high  degree  of  zeal  ?     In  this  he  was 

♦  By  their  own  light, 
3* 


26  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   I.) 

marvellous,  being  a  living  fire,  continually  burning  in  the 
love  of  God  and  man  ;  still  mounting  upward,  and  kindling 
all  that  were  capable  about  him  :  as  prone  to  fervour  and 
activiiy,  as  earthen  nature's  to  cold  and  idleness ;  uot  weary 
of  well-doing ;  not  speaking  slightly,  and  with   indifferent 
affection  of  the  great  Jehovah  and  of  holy  things  ;  but  with 
reverence  and  seriousness,  as  became  one  that  by  faith  still 
saw  the  Lord  :  Not  doing  God's  work  with  an  unwilling  or  a 
sluggish  heart,  as  if  he  did  it  not,  nor  as  those  that  fear  be- 
ing losers  by  God,  or  of  giving  him  more  than  he  deserveth, 
or  getting  salvation   at  too  dear  a  rate :  But  as  a  soul  that 
was  kin  to  angels,  which  are  active  spirits,  and  a  flame  of 
fire  that  came  from  God,  the  Lord  of  life,  and  Father  of 
spirits,  and  liveth  in  God,  and  is  working  and  passing  up  to 
God.     As  one  that  knew  that  none  other  work  was  worthy 
of  a  man,  (and  approvable   by  any  reason,  save  that  which 
is  made  a  salve  to  sense,)  except  only  the  soul's  resignation, 
ohedvience  and  love  to  God,  and  the  seeking  of  the  heavenly 
durable  felicity,  in  the  use  of  all  those  means  which  God  in 
nature  and  scripture  hath  appointed  for  the  obtaining  of  it. 
It  is  too  common  to  find  men  that  are  long  and  deep  stu- 
dents in  philosophy,  and  the  doctrinals  and  methods  of  theo- 
logy, to  be  found  none  of  the  most  zealous  or  serious  divines  ; 
and  for  the  learnedest  doctors  to  be  but  of  the  coarsest  and 
weakest  sort  of  christians.     Because  they  exercise  the  head 
almost  alone,  and  take  little  pains  to  work  what  truths  they 
know  upon  their  hearts  :  As  if  the  head  were  more  diseased 
with  sin,  than  the  heart  is,  and  the  heart  had  not  as  much 
need  of  a  cure  ;   Or  as  if  God's  grace  did  not  as  much  dwell  in 
the  ivill,  as   in  the  understanding  ;  and  the  heart  had  not 
the  noblest  work  to  do.     Life,  light,  and  love,  are  the  insep- 
arable influences  and  effects  of  the  Sanctifying  Spirit ;  but 
yet  sometimes  the  indisposition  of  the  receiver  may  keep  out 
one  of  them,  more  than  the  rest.     Light  alone  may  be  pro- 
fitable to  the  Church,  by  breeding  light  in  others  :   But  life 
and  love  also,  are  as  suitable  means  to  produce  their  like  as 
light  is.     And  without  them,  it  is  not  a  flashy  light  and  fri- 
gid knowledge  that  will  save  the  soul. 

And  on  the  other  side,  (alas  !)  how  ordinary  it  is  for  zeal 
to  make  a  busfle  in  the  dark,  and  for  those  that  are  very 
earnest  to  be  very  blind  ?  And  strong  affections  (not  to  God 
himself,  but  about  the  exercise  of  religious  duties)  to  be 
guided  by  a  weak  understanding  ;  and  so  for  such  well-mean- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  27 

iiig  persons,  to  make  most  haste  when  they  are  out  of  the 
way,  and  to  divide  and  trouble  the  church  and  neighbour- 
hood, by  their  fervency  in  error,  till  late  experieivce  hath 
ripened  them  to  see  what  mischief  their  self-conceitedness 
hath  done?  0  !  how  happy  were  the  church  of  God,  if  great 
understanding  and  fervent  zeal  were  ordinarily  as  well  Con- 
joined, as  they  were  in  this  worthy  man  ! 

And  many  have  much  reading,  and  plentiful  materials 
for  learning,  who  yet  were  never  truly  learned,  as  being  in- 
judicious and  never  having  well  digested  what  they  read, 
into  the  habits  of  solid  nnder/tanding.  But  so  was  it  not 
with  this  our  brother,  as  his  very  letters  fully  w  itness  :  how 
clearly  and  solidly  doth  he  resolve  that  great  question  which 
he  speaketh  to,  as  one  that  had  theology,  not  in  his  books 
only,  but  in  his  hand  and  heart. 

And  I  account  it  no  small  part  of  his  excellency,  that  his 
judgment  led  him  to  dwell  so  much  on  the  great  essentials 
of  godliness  and  Christianity;  the  love  of  God,  and  a  holy, 
just,  and  sober  life.  And  that  he  laid  not  out  his  zeal  dis- 
easedly,  and  unproportionably,  upon  those  outward  circum- 
stances, where  the  noise  doth  call  off  the  minds  of  too  many 
from  the  inward  lile  of  communion  with  God.  His  sermons, 
his  conference,  his  letters,  were  not  about  mint  and  cum- 
min, but  about  the  knowledge  of  God  in  Ciuist,  which  is  the 
ilfe  eternal. 

Yet  that  he  did  not  prostitute  his  conscience  to  the  inte- 
rest of  the  flesh,  nor  subject  God  to  the  world,  nor  deny  self- 
denial  and  the  cross  of  Christ;  nor  hypocritically  resolve  to 
shift  off' the  costly  part  of  religion,  on  pretence  of  indiffev' 
ency  or  smallness  of  any  thing  which  he  thought  God  forbad 
him  ; — you  need  no  other  proof  than  the  following  history. 

And  he  was  not  one  of  those  weak  w-ell-meaning  minis- 
ters, who  think  that  their  mere  honesty  is  enough  to  deserve 
the  esteem  of  worthy  pastors  ;  nor  was  he  one  of  those  proud 
and  empty  persons,  who  think  that  the  dignity  of  their  func- 
tion is  enough  to  oblige  all  to  bow  to  them,  and  to  be  ruled 
by  them,  without  any  personal  u'isdorn,  holiness,  or  minis- 
terial abilities,  suitable  to  their  sacred  office ;  but,  so  great 
was  his  ministerial  skilfulness  in  the  public  explication  and 
application  of  the  holy  scriptures  ;  so  melting  and  winning, 
convincing,  and  powerful  his  unafTected  sacred  oratory  ;  so 
wise  and  serious  his  private  dealing  with  particular  famalies 
and  souls,  that  it  is  no  w  onder  if  God  blessed  him  with  that 


28  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.  I.) 

great  success,  which  is  yet  visible  among  the  people  where 
he  lived,  and  which  many  of  his  brethren  wanted.  For  he 
did  not  by  slovenly  expressions,  or  immethodical  extrava- 
gancies, or  unsound  injudicious  erroneous  passages,  or  by  jo- 
cular levities,  or  by  nauseous  tautologies,  make  sermons  or 
prayers  become  a  scorn  ;  nor  give  advantage  to  carnal  cap- 
tious hearers,  who  for  every  hair,  not  only  abominate  the 
wholesomest  food,  but  also  write  books  to  breed  their  own 
disease  in  others  :  nor  yet  did  he,  by  an  affected  unnatural 
curiosity  of  jingling  words  and  starched  phrases,  make  ser- 
mons like  stage-plays,  and  destroy  the  people's  edification, 
or  their  reverence  of  holy  things  :  But  he  spake  as  one  that 
spake  from  God,  in  the  name  of  Christ,  for  men's  renovation 
and  salvation,  in  a  manner  suitable  to  the  weight  and  holi- 
ness of  the  matter. 

And  his  fervent  zeal  and  thirst  for  the  people's  conver- 
sion and  salvation,  was  a  great  advantage  to  his  success. 
For,  let  men's  parts  be  ever  so  great,  I  seldom  have  known 
any  man  to  do  much  good,  that  was  not  earnestly  desirous 
to  do  good  ;  if  he  long  not  for  men's  conversion,  he  is  sel- 
dom the  means  of  converting  many.  For  there  is  a  certain 
lively  seriousness  necessary  in  all  our  studies,  to  make  our 
sermons  suitable  to  their  ends,  and  in  all  our  preaching,  to 
make  them  fit  to  reach  men's  hearts  ;  without  which  they 
are  as  a  blunted  hiife,  or  as  a  bell  that's  cracked,  or  any 
other  unmeet  instruments,  unable  for  their  proper  use. 
And  though  God  can  work  miracles,  and  therefore  can  work 
without  means,  or  without  their  fitness,  yet  that  is  not  his 
ordinary  way,  and  therefore  is  not  to  be  expected. 

And  his  great  diligence  from  house  to  house  in  private, 
was  a  great  promoter  of  his  successes.  I  never  knew  a  min- 
ister, who  prudently  and  diligently  took  that  course,  to  be 
unprosperous  in  his  work  ;  but  by  them  that  have  wisely 
and  faithfully  used  it,  I  have  known  that  done  that  before 
seemed  incredible :  And  truly,  when  I  think  of  some  men 
yet  living,  and  some  few  (too  few)  places  (great  places) 
which  by  the  great  abilities  and  excellent  preaching,  the 
personal  exhortations  and  catechising,  the  unwearied  pains 
and  the  extraordinary  charity  to  the  poor,  the  holy  exempla- 
ry lives  of  their  pastors  (I  can  scarce  forbear  naming  four 
or  five  of  my  acquaintance)  have  been  so  generally  season- 
ed with  piety,  that  the  great  market  towns  have  become  as 
religious  as  the  selected  members,  which  some  think  only 


THE    REV.    JOSEl'H    ALLEI^E.  29 

fit  for  churches  ;  it  makes  me  conchide,  that  it  is  principal- 
ly for  want  of  such  a  ministry,  that  the  world  is  so  bad,  and 
that  oreater  things  are  not  done  among  us  :  And  that  for 
another  sort  of  men  to  cry  out  of  the  people's  ignorance 
and  profaneness,  and  obstinate  wickedness,  while  their  un- 
skilfulness,  sloth,  miscarriage,  and  negligence,  is  the  cause, 
— is  as  little  honour  to  them,  as  to  the  physician  or  surgeon, 
that  when  he  can  cure  but  few,  doth  cast  the  blame  upon  the 
patient,  when  skilfuller  men  do  cure  the  like. 

And  his  great  humility  in  stooping  to  the  meanest,  and 
conversing  with  the  poorest  of  the  flock,  and  not  affecting 
things  above  him,  nor  insinuating  by  flatteries  into  men  of 
worldly  wealth  and  power,  no  doubt  helped  on  his  great  suc- 
cesses ;  though  it  was  not  the  way  to  preferments,  honours, 
no,  nor  safety  and  quietness  to  the  flesh.  Had  Balaam 
dealt  throughout  sincerely,  it  had  been  a  very  honourable 
and  comfortable  word  to  him  from  king  Balak,  (Num. 
xxiv.  11.)  I  thought  to  promote  thee  to  great  honour,  hut 
lo,  the  Lord  hath  kept  thee  back  from  honour.  It  is  more 
honourable  and  comtbrtable  to  be  kept  from  honour  by  God 
and  a  conscience,  than  to  be  honoured  by  men  on  sinful 
terms. 

And  the  moderation  and  peaceableness  of  this  holy  man, 
was  very  exemplary  and  amiable ;  which  I  the  rather  men- 
tion, because  in  these  distempered  times  of  temptation,  too 
many  think  that  the  excellency  of  zeal  lieth  in  going  to  the 
furthest  from  those  they  differ  from  and  suffer  by.  And  be- 
cause some  will  think,  that  knew  no  more  of  him,  but  only 
how  oft  and  long  he  lay  in  the  Common  Gaol,  that  sure  he 
was  some  violent  unpeaceable  zealot.  No,  his  zeal  was 
for  peace  and  quietness,  for  love  and  for  good  works  :  He 
was  not  used  to  inflame  men  against  dissenters,  nor  to 
back-bite  others,  nor  to  make  those  odious  that  were  willing 
enough  to  have  made  him  so :  He  fled  from  one  extreme  with 
fear  and  suspicion  of  the  other.  He  was  indeed  himself  a 
silenced  minister,  in  a  place  and  among  a  people  who  had 
his  heart,  and  who  had  been  blessed  with  his  fruitful  labours  ; 
and  his  judgment  was.  That  it  is  sacrilege  for  a  minister, 
consecrated  to  God,  to  alienate  himself,  and  violate  that  cove- 
nant and  ministerial  dedication,  by  giving  over  his  work  as 
long  as  he  hath  ability  and  opportunity,  and  the  peopWs 
souls  have  a  true  necessity.  And  therefore  he  chose  that 
long  imprisonment,  rather  than  voluntarily  to  surcease.    But 


^ 


30  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   I.) 

whilst  he  had  liberty,  he  went  oft  to  the  public  assemblies, 
and  was  a  hearer  where  he  was  wont  to  be  a  teacher,  and 
encouraged  the  people  to  do  the  like.  He  spake  not  evil 
of  dignities,  nor  kindled  seditious  principles  or  passions  in 
the  people's  minds,  nor  disaffected  them  against  authority, 
nor  aggravated  his  own  sufferings  to  exasperate  their  minds 
against  such  as  he  suffered  by  ;  though  how  great  they  were 
as  to  the  effect,  the  sequel  will  acquaint  you.  In  all,  he  did 
in  patience  possess  his  soul,  and  learned  still  more  patience 
by  the  things  which  he  suffered,  and  taught  others  what  he 
learned  himself. 

But  above  all,  it  is  his  highest  excellency  in  my  eyes, 
that  he  attained  to  the  right  temperament  of  the  christian 
religion,  and  to  a  truly  evangelical  frame  of  spirit,  suitable 
to  the  glorious  hopes  of  faith,  and  to  the  wonderful  love  of 
our  Redeemer.  And  when  most  christians  think  that  they 
have  done  much,  if  they  can  but  weep  and  groan  over  their 
corruptions,  and  can  abstain  from  the  lustful  pollutions  of 
the  world,  in  the  midst  of  many  doubts  and  fears;  love  and 
JOY,  and  a  heavenly  mind,  were  the  internal  part  of  his 
religion;  and  the  large  and  fervent  praises  of  God,  and 
THANKSGIVING  for  his  mcrcies,  especially  for  Christ,  and 
the  Spirit,  and  heaven,  were  the  external  exercises  of  it. 
He  was  not  negligent  in  confessing  sin,  nor  tainted  with 
any  Antinomian  errors  ;  but  praise  and  thanksgiving 
were  his  natural  strains  ;  his  frequentest,  longest,  and  heart, 
iest  services  ;  He  was  no  despiser  of  a  broken  heart ;  but 
he  had  attained  the  blessing  of  a  healed  joyful  heart.  The 
following  narratives,  the  strain  of  his  letters,  but  above  all 
the  admirations  of  his  nearest  friends,  will  tell  him  that  will 
inquire,  how  his  triumphant  discourses  of  the  hopes  of  glory, 
and  his  frequent  and  fervent  thanksgiving  and  praise,  were 
the  language  which  he  familiarly  spake,  and  the  very  busi- 
ness  of  his  heart  and  life.  And,  O  how  amiable  is  it  to 
hear  the  tongue  employed  seriously  and  frequently  in  that 
which  it  was  made  for  ;  even  in  the  praise  of  Him  that  made 
it !  And  to  see  a  man  passing  with  joyful  hopes  towards 
immortality!  And  to  live -as  one  that  seriously  believeth 
that  he  must  quickly  be  in  the  heavenly  church,  and  live 
with  God  and  Christ  for  ever!  O  how  comely  is  it  to  see 
a  man  that  saith,  he  believeth  that  Christ  hath  redeemed  him 
from  hell,  and  reconciled  him  to  God,  and  made  him  an 
adopted  heir  of  glory,  to  live  like  one  that  was  so  strangely 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  31 

saved  from  so  great  a  misery,  and  with  the  most  affectionate 
gratitude  to  honour  the  purchaser  of  all  this  grace  !  And 
how  uncomely  a  thing  is  it  to  hear  a  man  say,  That  he  be- 
lieveth  all  this  grace  of  Christ,  this  heavenhj  glory,  this  love 
of  God,  and  yet  to  be  inclined  to  no  part  of  religion,  but 
fears  and  complainings,  and  scarce  to  have  any  words  of 
praises  or  thanksgiving,  but  a  few,  on  the  bye,  which  are 
heartless,  affected,  and  constrained  !  0  did  christians,  yea 
ministers,  but  live  with  the  joy,  and  gratitude,  and  praise  of 
Jehovah,  which  beseemeth  those  that  believe  what  they  be- 
lieve, and  those  that  are  entering  into  the  celestial  choir, 
they  would  then  be  an  honour  to  God  and  their  Redeemer, 
and  would  win  the  world  to  a  love  of  faith  and  holiness,  and 
make  them  throw  away  their  worldly  fool-games,  and  come 
and  see  what  it  is  that  these  joyous  soids  have  found  !  But 
when  we  shew  the  world  no  religion,  but  sighing  and  com- 
plainincr,  and  live  a  sadder  life  than  they,  and  yet  talk  of 
the  glad  tidings  of  Christ,  and  pardon,  and  salvation,  we 
may  talk  so  long  enough  before  they  will  believe  us  that 
seem  no  more  to  be  believers  ourselves,  or  before  they  will 
kave  their  fleshly  pleasures  for  so  sad  and  dreadful  a  life  as 
this. 

And  as  this  kind  of  heavenly,  joyful  life  is  an  honour  to 
Christ,  and  a  wonderful  help  to  the  converting  of  the  world, 
so  is  it  a  reward  to  him  that  hath  it ;  which  made  this  holy 
person  live  in  such  a  vigour  of  duty,  such  fervour  of  holy 
love,  and  such  continual  content  in  God,  so  that  the  king- 
dom of  God  in  him  was  righteousness,  peace,  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost ;  which  others  think  consisteth  in  meats,  drinks, 
and  days,  in  shadows  and  circumstances,  in  sidings  and  in 
singular  conceits.  (Rom.  xiv.  Col.  ii.  16.)  It  was  not  a 
melancholy  spirit  that  acted  him,  nor  did  he  tempt  his  peo- 
ple into  such  an  uncomfortable  state  and  strain.  But  in 
the  multitude  of  his  thoughts  within  him,  the  comforts  of 
God  did  delight  his  soul :  His  meditation  of  God  and  his 
Redeemer  was  sweet,  and  he  rejoiced  in  the  Lord.  He  de- 
lishted  in  the  law  of  the  Lord ;  and  when  delight  invited 
him,  no  wonder  if  it  were  his  meditation  day  and  night. 
Psalm  i.  2.  civ.  34.  cxix.  103,  xciv.  19. 

And  how  great  a  solace  was  this  in  his  sufferings,  when 
he  could  be  in  a  gaol  and  in  a  heaven  at  once  1  When  he 
could,  after  the  terrible  torment  of  convulsions,  have  the 


32  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  I.) 

foresight  and  taste  of  heavenly  pleasures?     JS'^ihil  Cms  sen- 
tit  in  JVervo,  cum  minimus  est  in  Cielo,  saith  Tertullian.* 

And  as  he  lived,  so  he  died,  in  vigorous  jouful  jrraises 
and  thanksgivings  :  Reviving  out  of  his  long  speechless 
convulsion,  into  those  fervent  raptures,  as  if  he  had  never 
been  so  impatient  of  being  absent  from  the  Lord,  as  when 
he  was  just  passing  into  his  presence  ;  or  rather  as  if,  with 
Stephen,  he  had  seen  heaven  opened  and  Christ  in  his  glory, 
and  could  not  but  speak  of  the  unutterable  things  which  he 
had  seen.  I  deny  not  but  his  vigorous  active  temper  might 
be  a  great  help  to  all  his  holy  alacrity  and  joy,  in  his  health- 
ful state:  But  when  that  frame  of  nature  was  broken  by 
such  torments,  and  was  then  dissolving,  to  hear  a  dying 
man  about  sixteen  hours  together,  like  the  ferventest  preach- 
er in  the  pulpit,  pour  out  his  soul  in  praises  and  thanksgiv- 
ing ;  and  speak  of  God,  of  Christ,  of  Heaven,  as  one  that 
could  never  speak  enough  of  them  ;  and  that  with  a  vivaci- 
ty and  force,  as  if  he  had  been  in  former  health,  and  to  tri- 
umph in  joy  as  one  that  was  just  laying  hold  upon  the  crown; 
— surely  in  this  there  was  something  that  was  the  reward  of 
all  his  former  praise  and  thankfulness  ;  and  that  which  must 
needs  tell  the  auditors  the  difference,  not  only  between  the 
death  of  a  righteous  believer  and  the  wicked  unbeliever, 
but  the  weak  and  distempered  believer ;  also  the  difference, 
between  a  sound  and  a  diseased  christian,  and  between  the 
triumphant  faith  and  hopes  of  one  that  saw  the  God  and 
world  invisible,  and  the  staggering  faith  and  trembling 
hopes  of  a  feeble  and  distrustful  soul ;  and  between  the 
death  of  one  that  had  been  use  to  converse  in  heaven  and 
to  make  thanksgiving  and  praise  his  work,  and  of  one  that 
had  been  used  to  cleave  to  earth  and  make  a  great  matter  of 
the  concernments  of  the  flesh,  and  to  rise  but  little  higher  in 
religion  than  a  course  of  outward  duty  animated  most  with 
troublesome  fears  :  Though  he  died  not  in  the  pulpit,  yet 
he  died  in  pulpit-work. 

And  I  must  also  note,  how  great  an  advantage  it  was  to 
himself,  and  to  his  ministerial  works,  that  he  was  possess- 
ed deeply  with  this  true  sentiment.  That  the  pleasing  of 
GOD  is  the  ultimate  end  of  man,  (not  doubting  but  it  inclu- 
deth  the  notion  of  glorifying  him,)  for  thus  his  heart  was 

*  The  cross  feelcth  nothing  in  the  nerves,  when  the  soul  is  in  hea- 
ven. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  33 

rightly  principled,  and   all  his  doctrine  and  duties  rightly 
animated. 

And  as  in  all  his  ministry  he  was  extraordinarily  addict- 
ed to  open  to  the  hearers  the  covenant  of  grace,  and  to  ex- 
plain religion  in  the  true  notion  of  covenanting  with  God 
and  covenant-keeping,  and  greatly  to  urge  men  to  deliberate 
well  grounded  resolutions  in  this  holy  covenant:  (As  one 
that  understood  that  baptizing  is  truly  christening,  and  tiiat 
Baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  are  our  sacramental  cove- 
nanting, and  that  we  need  no  new  descriptions  nor  charac- 
ters of  grace  and  church-titles,  if  we  understand  what  these 
sacraments  truly  mean  :)  So  God  was  pleased  to  give  him 
a  certainty  and  sense  of  his  divine  faithtulness,  in  fulfilling 
the  promises  of  his  covenant,  and  a  lively  sense  of  all  the 
benefits  of  it ;  and  his  faith  in  God  for  the  performance  of 
his  part,  was  as  strong  and  fixed,  as  when  his  own  resolution 
in  the  strength  of  grace  to  be  true  to  God  :  I  compare  not 
his  resolution  to  God's  fidelity ;  (for  what  comparison  be- 
tween God  and  man  ?)  but  only  to  his  belief  of  God's  fide- 
lity, and  his  comfort  in  the  assurance  of  the  conclusion. 
And  as  he  was  resolved  through  grace  never  to  forsake 
Christ,  so  Christ  did  never  fail  him  nor  forsake  him.  And 
in  his  ministry,  in  his  sufferings,  and  his  death,  this  faith, 
this  hope,  this  heavenly  joy  was  his  support  and  strength  ; 
and  in  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of  death,  he  feared  no  evil. 
But  when  his  flesh  and  heart  failed,  as  to  natural  strength, 
the  Lord  was  the  rock  or  strength  of  his  heart,  and  never 
failed  him.  (Psalm.  Ixxiii.  25.)  Let  me  die  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  and  let  my  last  end  be  like  his. 

I  have  premised  this  general  skeleton,  as  limners  and 
builders  first  draw  the  pillars  and  stamina  of  their  work, 
which  the  following  narratives  will  fill  up  :  And  I  have 
given  you  this  general  index  or  contents  of  what  is  distinct- 
ly contained  in  the  sequel.  For  the  history  is  not  drawn 
up  by  one  hand,  nor  as  by  one  that  intended  rather  to  shew 
what  he  could  say,  than  what  the  person  was  and  did:  But 
it  is  the  brief  account  of  the  several  parts  of  his  life,  drawn 
up  by  several  of  his  most  worthy  and  judicious  friends,  that 
were  present,  or  most  intimate  and  familiar  with  him.  And 
I  take  this  to  be  the  best  advantage  to  a  history,  as  to  the 
truth,  which  should  satisfy  the  incredulous,  though  not  as 
to  uniformity,  and  a  fluid  style,  which  might  please  the 
curious.     For  a  man's  life  is  like  a  war  or  battle  :     No  dis- 

4 


84  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   I.) 

persed  war,  no,  nor  any  one  particular  battle,  can  fully  be 
described  by  the  observations  of  any  one  man  alone :  But 
one  man  is  but  in  one  place,  and  seeth  only  that  which  is 
within  his  own  prospect,  which  his  proper  station  did  ad- 
vantage him  to  see  :  But  when  intelligent  men  from  each 
part  of  the  army  do  every  one  bring  in  their  several  narra- 
iives.  all  set  together  may  be  a  satisfactory  history  of  the 
"vvhole  war  or  fight :  So  when  a  man's  course  of  life  is  tran- 
sient, and  one  is  his  familiar  in  youth  and  another  at  riper 
age  ;  one  in  the  university,  and  another  in  the  ministry  ; 
one  in  prison,  and  one  at  home  ;  one  in  health,  and  another 
at  death  ;  it  is  no  one  of  himself  that  can  credibly  report 
the  whole.  And  therefore  though,  by  variety  of  style,  it 
nay  may  seem  a  ceuto.  or  incongruously  composed  ;  yet  truth 
being  the  soul  of  history,  that's  best  which  is  best  fitted  to 
the  lovers  of  truth.  And  though  one  part  be  written  by  a 
woman,  his  widow  ;  and  another  part  by  his  Reverend 
Father-in-law;  another  by  that  worthy  pastor  whom  he  as- 
sisted ;  another  by  a  fellow  minister,  and  another  by  a 
scholar  of  his  intimate  acquaintance,  &c.  ;  yet  is  there  such 
agreement  in  them  all,  and  such  evidence  of  unquestionable 
verity,  especially  to  all  who  know  these  worthy  and  faithful 
persons,  that  for  my  part  I  take  it  as  coming  to  me  with 
greater  advantage,  than  if  it  had  been  an  evener  thread, 
drawn  out  by  one  skilful  hand  alone;  as  the  writing  of  the 
history  of  Christ  by  the  four  evangelists,  is  advantageous  to 
the  christian  faith.  The  plainness  and  open  breast  ofagod- 
\y  widow,  and  of  so  many  holy  and  most  credible  friends,  is 
another  kind  of  evidence,  than  the  contrived  history  of  a 
learned  man,  which  is  fitted  to  the  interests  of  a  party  to 
which  the  person's  fame  and  honour  seemeth  requisite  :  I 
know  not  how  a  history  of  this  nature  could  come  to  us 
with  fairer  human  evidence  of  unquestionable  credibility 
than  this  doth. 

And  let  posterity  know,  (for  I  need  not  tell  it  to  this  pre- 
sent age,  who  live  in  the  light  ;)  that  though  this  servant 
of  Christ  excelled  very  many  of  his  brethren,  yet  it  i^  not 
that  such  men  are  wonders  in  this  age,  tliathis  life  is  singled 
out  to  be  recorded  to  posterity  :  But  because  his  affectionate 
friends  and  auditors  are  forwarder  than  many  others,  hereby 
to  tell  the  world  what  effects  his  holy  doctrine  and  example 
hath  left  upon  their  hearts  ;  it  makes  the  writer's  heart  to 
bleed,  to  think  how   many  thousand,  of  souls  do  perish  by 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  35 

ignorance,  and  nno-odliness,  even  in  England  ;  and  how 
many  vast  kingdoms  of  the  world  are  deprived  of  the  gos- 
pel. 

If  you  ask,  '*  What  labours  hath  he  left  behind  him  ?'  I 
answer  ;  first,  the  great  numbers  of  holy  souls  converted, 
confirmed,  and  edified  by  his  doctrine,  and  the  example  of 
his  holy  life  ;  the  specimen,  or  exemplar  of  a  right  minister 
of  the  gospel,  which  he  hath  left  to  the  neighbouring  minis- 
ters that  knew  him,  and  to  those  that  now  possess  their  places, 
and  to  all  the  ministers  of  the  land,  and  to  the  ages  that  are 
yet  to  come  ;  for  who  will  ruA  be  convinced  of  the  necessity 
and  sweetness  of  holy  diligence,  in  so  good  a  work,  and  be- 
come laborious  in  the  word  and  doctrine,  who  seriously  read- 
eth  such  examples  as  this  here  set  before  him  1  And  who 
that  considereth  it  aright,  can  choose  but  see,  how  greatly 
such  holy  labourers  do  difl^er  from  those  that  preach  the  gos- 
pel in  strife  and  envy,  to  add  affliction  to  Paul's  bonds. 
(Phil.  1.  15.)  And  those  that  use  their  ministry  but  as  law- 
yers use  the  laws,  to  get  preferment  and  worldly  wealth  by 
it ;  that  they  may  say,  Soid,  take  thy  ease,  eat,  drink,  and 
be  merry,  thou  hast  goods  enough  laid  up  for  many  years  : 
Till  they  hear  at  last.  Thou  fool,  this  night  shall  they  require 
thy  sold  ;  whose  then  shall  the  things  be  u'hich  thou  posses- 
sest  ?  So  is  every  one  that  layeth  up  riches  for  himself,  and 
is  not  rich  towards  God. 

Secondly,  And  for  writings,  who  can  expect  that  a  man 
that  entered  upon  the  sacred  ministry  at  twenty-one  years 
of  age,  and  died  about  thirty-five,  and  lived  in  such  exceed- 
ing ministerial  labours,  should  leave  many  books  behind  him 
of  his  writing,  in  an  age  wherein  we  have  had  too  many 
books,  and  too  few  such  ministers  1  Yet  the  following  his- 
tory tells  us,  he  is  the  author  of  that  Synopsis  of  the  Cove- 
nant, in  Mr.  Richard  Alleine's  book.  He  printed  an  exposi- 
tion of  the  ^'lssembly''s  Catechism,  with  an  exhortation  to 
use  it ;  as  also  prayers  for  his  people's  use  ;  and  left  a  book 
to  work  on  the  unconverted,  not  yet  printed.  And  he  hath 
left  (alas!  imperfect;)  a  good  part  of  a  body  of  JS^atural 
Theology,  called  Theologia  Philosophica.  1 .  De  cognitione 
Dei.  2.  De  existentia  Dei.  3.  Denominibus  et  substantia 
Dei.  4.  De  attributis  Dei  in  genere,  et  speciatim  de  ejus 
unitate.  5.  De  perfectione  divina,  (^-c.  6.  De  decretis  di- 
vinis.  7.  De  providentia  divina,     8.   De    cidtu  divinOy  de 


36  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (ciIAP.   I.) 

precibiis.*  In  all  which  he  sHCcinctly  delivereth,  in  a  very 
good  Latin  Style,  the  Christian  Doctrine  :  and  then  by  way 
of  annotations,  addeth  the  testimony  of"  the  ancient  philoso- 
phers, so  that  you  have  together  a  sum  of  sound  doctrine,  and 
the  fullest  attestation  of  Elhnicks^  consent  that  ever  1  have 
seen  ;  being  such  a  promptuary  for  any  one  that  hath  not 
leisure  to  peruse  or  to  gather  to  such  particular  uses  the  phi- 
losophers themselves,  that  1  know  nowhere  you  can  find  the 
like.  For  every  sheet  or  two  of  his  doctrine  on  the  subject 
there  is  about  eight,  ten,  twelve,  or  more  sheets  of  collected 
attestations.  The  re-st  are  all  imperfectly  written,  only  that 
jDe  providentia,  hath  his  ultimani  manum-f  and  is  licensed 
for  the  press  ;  but  being  Latin  and  Greek,  and  such  books 
having  too  few  buyers  in  England,  none  yet  is  found  that 
will  be  at  the  charge  of  printing  it,  much  less  altogether  ; 
though  indeed  (though  imperfect)  it  is  pity  they  should  be 
separated.  The  title  of  this  licensed  piece  is,  Theologice  Phi. 
losophicce,  sive  Philosophies,  Theologicce,  specimen  :  In  quo 
Eterni  Dei  Providentia  solius  natural  lumine  comprohatur^ 
validissimis  rationum  momeniis  demonstratur,  quoad  partes, 
species,  ohjecta,  ^-c.  explicatur  ;  contra  omnes  denique  adver- 
sarioriim  objectiones  Jirmatur  :  Ex  Aristotele,  Platone,  Chal- 
cidio,  Sallustio,  Firmico,  Empirico,  Jamlio,  Antonino,  Epic- 
teto,  Proclo,  Simplicio,  Cicerone,  Seneca,  Macrobio,  Porphy- 
rio,  Xenophonte,  Galeno,  Plutarcho,  Plotino,  Tyrio,  Appu- 
leio,  Alcino,  aliisque  Philosophis,  Oraioribus,  et  Poetis, 
turn  GrcBcis  turn  Latinis,  ad  Jltheorum  convictionem,  ct  Or. 
fhodoxorum  confirmationem ;  e  luciibratioiie  J.  A.  Anno 
Dom.   166Lt 

*  Pi vilosophical  Theology.  1.  On  the  knowledge  of  God.  2.  His 
existcuce.  3.  His  names  and  substance.  4.  His  attributes  in  gene- 
ral, and  especially  his  unity.  5.  On  the  divine  perfection,  &c.  6. 
The  divine  decrees.  7.  Divine  Providence.  8.  Divine  worship  and 
prayer. 

•f  His  final  correction. 

t  A  Specimen  of  Philosophical  Theology,  or  Theolo;^ical  Philoso- 
phy, in  which  the  Providence  of  the  everlasting  God  is  proved  by 
the  light  of  nature  alone,  demonstrated  by  the  most  powerful  force 
of  reasoning,  and  exphiined,  as  to  its  divisions,  species,  objects,  &c. 
And  lastly  it  is  confirmed,  against  all  objections  of  adversaries,  from 
Aristotle,  Piato,  &c.  &.c.,  and  other  Philosophers,  Orators,  Poets,  both 
Greek  and  Latin,  for  the  conviction  of  Atheists,  and  the  confirmation 
of  the  Orthodox.     By  the  labour  and  study  of  Joseph  Alleine.     1661. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  37 


CHAP.  II. 

A  brief  relation  of  his  early  setting  forth  in  the  christian  race,  fronri  his 
childhood.  Also  some  memorials  of  his  industrious  and  prosperous 
pursuit  of  learning,  and  of  his  singular  piety  during  his  abode  in  the 
University. 

WRITTEN    BY    AN    EYE-WITNESS    THEREOF. 

Mr.  Joseph  Alleine,  born  in  the  Devizes,  in  Wiltshire, 
in  the  year  1633,  during  his  childhood  shewed  forth  a  sin- 
gular sweetness  of  disposition,  and  a  remarkable  diligence  in 
everything  he  was  then  employed  about.  The  first  observ- 
able zeal  of  religion  that  appeared  in  him,  was  in  the 
eleventh  year  of  his  age,  about  which  time  he  was  noted  to 
be  very  diligent  in  private  prayer,  and  so  fixed  in  that  duty, 
that  he  would  not  be  disturbed  or  moved  by  the  coming  of 
any  person  accidently  into  the  places  of  his  retirement. 
This  and  other  fruits  of  a  serious  and  gracious  spirit,  were 
the  common  observation  of  the  family.  From  this  time 
forward,  the  whole  course  of  his  youth  was  an  even-spun 
thread  of  godly  conversation,  which  was  rendered  more 
amiable  by  his  sweet  and  pleasant  deportment  towards  all 
he  conversed  with.  While  he  thus  openly  began  to  run  his 
christian  race,  his  brother,  Mr.  Edward  Alleine,  a  worthy- 
minister  of  the  gospel,  departed  this  life  ;  Whereupon  he 
earnestly  desired  to  be  brought  up  in  preparation,  to  succeed 
him  in  the  work  of  the  ministry,  which  good  motion  his  fa- 
ther gladly  hearkened  unto,  and  speedily  prepared  to  put  it 
in  execution.  Such  was  his  great  diligence  at  school,  that 
he  redeemed  for  his  book  the  time  allotted  for  recreation. 
In  the  space  of  about  four  years  he  attained  to  very  good 
knowledge  in  the  Latin  and  Greek  tongues,  and  was  by  his 
schoolmaster  adjuged  fit  for  University  studies.  After  which, 
he  abode  some  time  with  his  father  in  the  country,  where  a 
worthy  minister  of  the  place  read  Logic  to  him.  And  when 
he  was  about  sixteen  years  old,  he  was  placed  in  Lincoln 
College,  in  Oxford. 

He  had  not  been  long  in  the  University,  but  a  Wiltshire 
place  becoming  void  in  Corpus  Christi  College,  he  was 
chosen  scholar  of  that  house.     The  pregnancy  of  his  parts 

4* 


38  THE    LIFE     AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  II.) 

assuring  all  that  his  own  merits  were  the  sole  friends, 
the  only  mandamus  which  brought  him  in. 

Being  entered  and  settled,  he  gave  both  early  and  con- 
stant proofs  of  his  indefatigable  industry  ;  signalizing  there- 
by his  love  for  learning,  and  evidently  demonstrating  how 
much  he  abhorred  to  be  found  a  drone  in  such  a  hive.  He 
esteemed  a  college  an  other-guess  place  than  a  victualling 
HOUSE,  and  coming  into  this  with  a  nobler  design  than 
only  to  TAKE  commons.  He  thought  himself  happy  in  no- 
thing so  much,  as  the  advantage  he  had  gained  for  the  best 
Aqiiists. 

I  have  known  too  many,  who,  in  the  very  places  which 
they  have  got  by  their  parts,  have  lost  the  parts  which  got 
them  their  places;  and  peradventure  had  been  excellent 
scholars,  had  they  never  had  those  encouragements  to  be  so, 
which  they  unhappily  won  from  their  competitors.  For 
idleness  enervates  the  strength  of  nature,  and  makes  those 
logs  that  might  have  been  Mercuries  ;  but  this  person  was 
none  of  those.  He,  quitting  himself  so  well  at  the  election, 
was  but  a  pledge  and  earnest  of  his  doing  better  afterwards. 
He  made  it  appear  to  all  observing  him,  that  when  he  stood, 
he  stood  not  so  much  for  a  place,  as  for  the  accomplishments 
by  his  future  studiousness  attainable  in  it,  demeaning  him- 
self like  one,  who,  even  in  the  days  of  his  vanity,  well  un- 
derstood how  profane  a  thing  it  was  to  live  in  a  school  of 
learning  no  otherwise  than  as  if  it  were  a  sanctuary  for 
laziness,  or  a  place  privileged  with  nothing  else  but  leave 
and  opportunity  to  eat  the  founder's  bread,  with  no  other 
sweat  of  the  brow,  than  what's  provoked  in  a  ball-court. 

Never  had  learning  a  truer  drudge  since  she  kept  house 
in  Oxford.  At  her  vvorkhe  was  both  day  and  night,  think- 
ing all  time  too  little,  no  pains  too  much,  that  he  spent  in 
her  service.  When  but  a  schoolboy  (as  1  have  heard)  he 
was  observed  to  be  so  studious,  that  he  was  known  as  much 
by  this  periphrasis.  The  lad  i  that  ivill  not -play,  as  by  his 
name.  And  sure  I  am,  when  in  the  University,  he  was  so 
generously  and  ingeniously  bookish,  that  he  deserved  to  be 
called.  The  Scholar,  who  h\j  his  good  will  would  do  nothing 
else  but  praij  and  study. 

Courteous  he  was,  and  very  civil  to  all  acquaintance. 
But  if  they  came  to  visit  him  at  studying  times,  though  they 
were  sure  enough  to  find  him  within,  yet  withal  so  busy 
generally  with  better  company,  as  to  have  no  leisure  to  let 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  39 

them  in.  And  if  at  this  they  were  moved,  and  murmured, 
and  went  away  oftended  with  him,  he  cared  not.  That 
notable  principle  ot"  Joachim  Fortius  which  shut  him  up, 
bearing  him.  out,  and  being  his  relief  in  all  such  cases,  viz., 
"  Better  it  is  that  they  should  wonder  at  thy  rudeness,  than 
thou  shouldst  lose  thy  time  ;  for  only  one  or  two  will  take 
notice  of  that,  but  all  posterity  would  be  sensible  of  this." 

His  appetite  to  his  business  being  that  to  him  which 
alarums  in  their  chambers  are  wont  to  be  to  others  ;  seldom 
it  was  that  he  could  be  found  in  bed  after  four  in  the  morn- 
ing,  though  he  had  stayed  up  on  the  same  occasion  on  which 
he  then  rose,  till  almost  one  over  night. 

For  though,  whilst  junior  scholar,  he  obtained  many 
weekly  sleeping  days  for  others,  yet  in  many  years  he 
could  hardly  vouchsafe  to  himself  so  much  as  one. 

And  as  thus  he  begrudged  himself  his  rest,  so  thus  also 
his  very  food  ;  it  being  as  familiar  with  him  to  give  away 
his  commons  (at  least)  once,  as  with  any  others  to  eat  theirs 
twice  a-day.  As  if  he,  who  was  never  satisfied  how  many 
volumes  soever  he  devoured,  had  looked  upon  it  as  a  kind 
of  gluttony  to  eat  that  meal,  the  time  of  eating  which  might 
without  prejudice  to  health,  have  been  better  spent  upon  a 
book.  Porphyry's  wish,  "  That  he  were  able  to  live  with- 
out eating  and  drinking  at  all,  so  that  he  might  be  wholly 
taken  up  about  nobler  things,"  is  sure  the  wish  of  thousands 
in  the  learned  world.  Certain  I  am  it  was  his,  and  that  if 
piety  would  have  suffered  him,  and  they  had  not  been  such 
dear  friends,  he  would  have  fallen  out  with  God,  for  tying 
his  soul  to  such  a  body,  as  could  not  subsist  without  (what 
he  would  often  call  no  better  than  time-consuming  things) 
meat,  and  drink,  and  sleep. 

That  this  his  laborious  studiousness  was  as  delightful  and 
pleasant  to  him,  as  the  highest  voluptuousness  can  be  to  the 
most  sensual  sot,  I  conclude,  not  only  from  the  constancy  of 
it,  but  from  his  charging  matrimony,  to  which  afterwards 
he  became  a  subject,  with  no  greater  tyrannny,  than  the  ne- 
cessity which  it  laid  upon  him  of  being  kinder  sometimes 
unto  himself  than  he  was  wont  to  be  in  Oxford.  For,  being 
married,  an  intimate  friend  of  his  of  the  same  college,  who 
had  thoughts  of  changing  his  condition,  wrote  to  him,  and 
in  a  jesting  manner,  desired  of  him  an  account  of  the  incon- 
veniences of  marriage  ;  to  whom  he  returned  this  pleasant, 
but  very  significant  answer  ;  ''  Thou  wouldst  know  the   in- 


40  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   II.) 

conveniences  of  a  wife,  and  I  will  tell  thee ;  first  of  all, 
whereas  thou  risest  constantly  at  four  in  the  morning,  or 
before,  she  will  keep  thee  till  about  six.  Secondly,  whereas 
thou  usest  to  study  fourteen  hours  in  the  day,  she  will  bring 
thee  to  eight  or  nine.  Thirdly,  whereas  thou  art  wont  to 
forbear  one  meal  a-day  at  least  for  thy  studies,  she  will 
bring  thee  to  thy  meat.  If  these  be  not  mischiefs  enough 
to  affright  thee,  I  know  not  what  thou  art." 

Through  his  industry,  with  God's  blessing  on  it,  he  ex- 
ceedingly prospered  in  his  studies,  and  quickly  appeared  a 
notable  proficient.  He  would  often  say,  "  he  chiefly  affected 
rational  learning,  valuing  skill  in  languages  only  for  the 
sake  of  things,  and  those  things  most  which  were  of  all  most 
likely  to  improve  his  judgment."  And  the  truth  of  his 
words  was  sufficiently  evident.  For  all  that  knew  him, 
knew  him  to  be  as  good  a  linguist,  so  as  smart  a  disputant, 
and  an  excellent  philosopher.  When  he  performed  any 
academical  exercises,  either  in  the  hall  or  in  the  schools,  he 
seldom  or  ever  came  off  without  the  applause,  or  at  least  the 
approbation  of  all  but  the  envious  ;  who  also  themselves 
even  by  their  very  detractions,  in  spite  of  their  teeth,  com- 
mended him  ;  their  being,  to  the  ingenious,  no  surer  sign 
almost  of  his  having  acquitted  himself  well,  than  that  such 
as  they  could  not  endure  it  should  be  said  so. 

Certain  am  I  his  pregnant  parts  and  early  accomplish- 
ments were  so  much  taken  notice  of  in  the  College,  that  so 
soon  almost  as  he  was  but  a  bachelor  of  arts,  he  was 
even  compelled  to  commence  a  tutor;  and  presently  in- 
trusted (to  speak  within  compass)  with  as  great  a  number 
of  pupils  as  any  in  the  house.  Some  of  his  scholars  are 
now  Graduates  in  Divinity,  and  singular  ornaments  of  that 
flourishing  society,  as  Mr.  John  Rosewell,  B.  D.  Mr.  Ni- 
cholas Horseman,  B.  D.  &c.  Others  of  them,  who  left  the 
University,  have  not  gone  without  considerable  pre- 
ferments in  the  church,  as  Mr.  John  Peachil,  lately  lecturer 
at  St.  Clements  Danes,  without  Temple-Bar  ;  Mr.  Chris- 
topher Coward,  prebendary  of  Wells,  &c.  And  I  make 
no  question  but  all  of  them  (which  are  yet  alive)  honour 
his  memory,  and  will  at  any  time  be  ready  to  express  the 
grateful  sense  which  they  retain  of  (he  advantage  they  re- 
ceived from  his  prudent  instructions  and  pious  examples. 

It  is  true,  indeed,  he  had  no  advancement  proportionable 
to  his  merits  whilst  he  staid  amongst  us  :     But  if  there  were 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  41 

any  thing  to  be  blamed  for  that,  it  was  nothing  else  but  his 
own  self-denial.  For  a  chaplain's  place  becoming  void,  he 
chose  that  before  a  fellowship,  which  he  knew  well  enough, 
in  a  little  time,  would,  of  course,  and  by  right,  have  been 
certainly  his-  And  this  choice  having  been  made  by  him 
at  first  deliberately,  he  never  after  in  the  least  repented,  but 
rather  often  reflected  on  it  with  a  great  deal  of  content  and 
comfort.  For  he  had  always  such  a  huge  affection  for  pray- 
er, that  he  and  his  friend  could  hardly  ever  walk  and  dis- 
course  together,  but,  before  they  parted,  at  his  desire,  they 
must  also  go  and  pray  together.  And  what  a  pleasure  then 
may  we  think  it  was  to  him,  twice  a-day  to  engage  a  w  hole 
society,  in  so  dear  an  exercise,  with  a  Let  us  prmj  !  Fre- 
quently indeed  have  I  heard  him  say,  He  prized  Ihe  em- 
ployment above  that  which  generally  we  reckoned  much 
better  preferment,  and  looked  upon  it  as  his  honour  and 
happiness. 

And  it  was  well  v/ith  us  that  so  he  did,  it  being  hardly 
possible  that  the  duty  of  the  place  should  have  been  by  any 
discharged  better  than  it  was  by  him.  We  were  not  used 
to  a  great  deal  of  noise,  vain  tautologies,  crude  effusions, 
unintelligible  sense,  or  mysterious  nonsense,  instead  of 
prayer.  His  spirit  was  serious,  his  gesture  reverent,  his 
words  few,  but  premiditated  and  well  weighed,  pithy,  solid, 
and  to  the  full  expressive  of  his  as  truly  humble  as  earnest 
desire.  He  loathed  the  sauciness  which  went  by  the  name 
of  holy  boldness  ;  and  drew  near  to  God,  not  as  if  he  had 
been  going  to  play  with  his  mate,  but  as  became  a  creature 
overawed  with  the  majesty  of  his  great  Creator.  He  prayed 
with  the  spirit  and  the  understanding  also ;  confessed  sin 
with  real  grief,  inward  hatred,  and  detestation  ;  and  begged 
the  mercies  he  came  to  beg,  like  one  that  felt  the  want  and 
worth  of  what  he  begged,  with  faith  and  fervency,  and  true 
importunity  ;  his  affections  working,  but  working  rationally 
as  well  as  strongly. 

And  this,  as  I  doubt  not  it  prevailed  above,  so  it  had  on 
us  the  more  powerful  influence,  because  we  found  it  to  be 
no  mere  religious  fit,  but  exactly  agreeable  to  the  habitual 
frame  and  disposition  of  the  man.  It  is  a  shrewd  reflection 
which  Suidas  makes  on  the  philosopher  Sallust :  (How 
truly  I  know   not,  he    is  neither   civil  nor  just  to  some  :) 

^aWovtrriov   Ss  6  rponos  irapdSolog  iratriv  avdpajirois,  hre  fxcv  <pi\oco(()ovvTOi 
tf!i\  TO    KaprepdiTcpov,  to.   6e    iroi^ovros  £Tt    to    yeXoioTEpov,  >^aliUSl  S 


42  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  Il) 

carriage  was  strange  to  all  men  ;  for  though  when  he  read 
his  philosophy  lectures,  he  did  it  gravely  and  very  solemn- 
ly ;  yet  at  other  times  he  played  the  child,  and  that  most 
ridiculously."  And  there  are  too  many,  both  chaplains  and 
preachers,  who  justly  merit  as  bad  a  censure  :  Whilst  pray- 
ing and  preaching,  they  appear  demure,  and  mighty  devout ; 
yet  take  them  out  of  their  desks  and  pulpits,  and  they  are  as 
light,  as  vain,  and  frothy,  yea,  extremely  dissolute,  as  any 
others.  But  it  was  not  so  with  this  person  :  For  he  was 
always  composed  and  serious,  grave  and  reverend,  above 
his  age.  He  set  God  always  before  him  :  and  wherever  he 
was,  laboured  to  live  as  in  his  presence.  It  was  his  solemn 
business  to  be  religious  ;  his  great  endeavour  to  walk  by 
rule  ;  his  main  design,  in  all  his  ways,  to  approve  himself 
unto  his  Father,  which  saw  in  secret ;  and  his  daily  exer- 
cise, to  keep  a  conscience  void  of  offence,  both  towards 
God  and  towards  men. 

As  for  the  pleasures  and  delights  of  sin,  he  highly  nau- 
seated and  abhorred  them  ;  was  so  above  them,  that  he 
could  not  endure  them ;  Quam  suave  istis  suavitatibtcs 
carere  !  "How  sweet  was  it  to  him  (as  said  once  St. 
Austin)  to  want  those  sweets  !"  And  as  for  lawful  delights 
and  pleasures,  although  he  did  divert  unto,  and  now  and 
then  solace  a  while,  and  entertain  himself  with  them,  yet 
how  little  was  his  heart  unto  them,  or  was  he  (generally) 
taken  with  them  !  He  was  as  formal  in  using  them,  as  some 
christians  are  in  God's  service;  as  they  sometimes  do  pray, 
as  if  indeed  they  prayed  not ;  and  hear,  as  if  they  heard  not ; 
so  he  rejoiced  in  such  things  as  these,  as  if  indeed  he  re- 
joiced not.  He  looked  upon  them,  compared  with  others, 
as  upon  his  righteousness,  compared  with  Christ's, — as  very 
vanity,  yea,  dross  and  dung.  His  conversation  being  in 
heaven,  his  sweetest  comforts  and  most  prized  refreshments, 
were  divine  and  heavenly.  His  soul  took  often  a  delightful 
prospect  of  eternity,  viewing  the  regions  of  bliss  and  glory, 
looking  wistly  at  her  father's  seat,  the  mount  of  joy,  aspiring 
after  a  nobler  mansion,  and  hugging  herself  in  a  comfortable 
persuasion,  that  it  would  not  be  long  ere  she  should  be  in  it. 
And  hereupon,  as  he  little  minded  any  earthly  glory,  so  he  lit- 
tle minded  or  cared  for  the  poor  and  empty  delights  of  sense. 

However,  he  was  not  morosely  pious,  nor  did  his  affec- 
tion to  God  and  goodness,  and  the  things  above,  make  him 
either  a  Timoa  or  a  Cynic ;  it  had  not  then  been  so  true 


THE    REV.  JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  43 

and  genuine,  and  of  so  right  a  kind  as  it  was.  Homiletical 
virtue  he  as  much  excelled  in  as  any  other,  and  the  decried 
morality  found  ever  with  him  very  great  respect,  being  re- 
cognised as  an  integral  part  of  his  religion. 

He  was  of  a  sweet  disposition,  and  of  as  highly  civil  a 
conversation,  as  a  man  (subject  to  the  common  frailties  of 
human  nature)  almost  could  be.  He  had  scarce  a  gesture 
which  did  not  seem  to  speak,  and,  by  a  powerful  and  charm- 
ing rhetoric,  affect  all  whom  he  conversed  with.  Were  it 
not  that  he  had  so  many  other  moral  perfections  and  excel- 
lencies besides  that,  it  might  as  truly  be  said  of  him,  as  by 
the  historian  was  of  the  Emperor,  in  respect  of  his  clemen- 
cy, that  he  ivas — totns  ex  comitate, — made  itp,  as  it  ivere,  of 
nothing'  else  but  courtesy  and  a  [lability. 

For  a  friend,  I  think  I  may  safely  say,  he  was  one  of  the 
truest  that  ever  person  had  interest  in  ;  and  withal,  as  plea- 
sant as  a  serious  christian  could  well  wish.  He  loved  not 
rashly,  but  where  he  loved,  he  loved  entirely  ;  and  whoever 
came  to  be  entertained  in  his  affections,  were  sure  to  find  a 
warm  lodging.  There  was  no  more  but  only  one  thing, 
which  he  thought  too  much  for  any,  for  whom  he  thought 
not  his  love  too  good.  He  could  not  sin,  knowingly,  and 
willingly,  for  any  friend  he  had  on  earth.  When  Lelius  in 
the  presence  of  the  Roman  Consuls,  (w^ho,  after  the  con- 
demnation of  Tiberius  Gracchus,  pursued  all  that  had  been 
formerly  intimate  with  him,)  came  to  inquire  of  Caius  Blo- 
sius,  his  chiefest  friend,  "  What  he  was  willing  to  have  done 
for  Gracchus  ?"  He  answered,  "  All  things."  "  What ! 
all  things  ?"  replied  Lelius  ;  "  suppose  he  had  willed  you  to 
burn  our  temples,  would  you  have  done  it  at  his  request  ?" 
*'  I  know,"  said  Blosius,  "  he  could  never  command  it ;  but 
if  he  had,  I  had  obeyed  him."  I  confess  this  friend  did 
never  dare  to  be  such  a  friend,  or  any  thing  like  him  :  But 
usque  ad  aras, — so  fa?'  as  laufully  and  conscientiously  he 
might  do  any  thing,  he  stuck  at  nothing  wherein  he  might 
serve,  pleasure  or  gratify  them  he  loved. 

And  yet  his  love  was  not  ingrossed  by  his  friends  only  ; 
for  whilst  to  them  he  shewed  himself  friendly,  good  nature 
as  well  as  Christianity  obliged  him  to  be  kind  to  all,  and 
(according  to  his  ability)  to  the  poor  bountiful.  He  was 
too  frugal  to  throw  away  his  charity,  yet  not  so  covetous  as 
to  withhold  it  when  he  met  with  objects  to  whom  was  it  due. 
He  did  not  think  the  little  he  had  so  much   his  own  as  that 


44  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.    II.) 

his  necessitous  brethren  might  not  claim  a  part  in  it ;  and 
therefore  gave  them  as  if  lie  had  been  paying  debts,  and  not 
bestowing  alms.  But  of  ail  the  most  admirable  was  his  af- 
fections to  the  souls  of  others,  and  his  desire  to  do  good  to 
them.  This  indeed  was  most  conspicuous,  and  seemed  to 
shew, 

Vehit  inter  Ignes 
Luna  minores, 

JMuch  like  the  JMoon  appearing  bigger,  and  shining  brighter 
than  the  other  stars.  The  sage  Pythagoras,  I  remember, 
gave  this  very  mystical  but  wise  advice  unto  his  scholars  ; 
'EyK£(pa\ov  /i>j  eaOuiv,  by  no  lueans  to  eat  their  own  brains  ;  in- 
tending by  it,  as  is  conceived,  that  they  should  not  keep 
their  reason  (of  which  the  brain  is  an  immediate  instru- 
ment) unto  themselves,  but  still  employ  it  for  the  advan- 
tage of  others.  And  sure  this  person  did  forbear  to  eat,  but 
by  his  abstinence  fed  many  others  with  his  brains,  that  is, 
his  enlightened,  improved  reason.  Some  there  are,  to  my 
knowledge,  who  at  this  day  do  verily  think,  they  should 
never  have  found  the  way  to  live,  or  to  live  forever,  if  he 
had  lived  unto  himself.  Eminent  was  his  charity  to  the 
poor  prisoners  in  Oxford  gaol ;  among  whom  jfirst  (as  the 
Rev.  Mr.  Perkins  did  at  Cambridge,)  of  his  own  accord  he 
began  to  preach,  and  held  on  constantly  (while  he  remained 
in  town)  once  a  fortnight,  for  a  year  and  upwards,  encoura- 
ging them  to  give  attendance  on  his  ministry,  by  a  consider- 
able allowance  of  bread  that  week  he  preached,  at  his  proper 
cost  and  charges.  Frequent  visits  also  was  he  used  to 
make  at  other  times,  to  other  persons  in  the  world  that  were 
but  mean  and  low  ;  his  main  design  (together  with  the  re- 
lieving of  their  temporal  wants)  being  to  assist  their  souls, 
and  help  them  forward  in  their  way  to  heaven.  And  indeed, 
in  all  his   converses,  wherever  he  was,  he  was  like  fire  (as 

Sallust  was  used  to   say  of   Athenodorus)   Eldirrcjv  iravra  rawapa- 

KEiixEva;  warmings  refreshing,  quickening  all  that  were  about 
him,  and  kindling  in  them  the  like  zeal  for  God  and  good 
ness  which  he  had  iu  himself.  Whoever  they  were,  that  came 
to  visit  or  be  acquainted  with  him,  it  was  their  own  fault  if 
they  got  not  by  him  so  much  good,  as  to  be  for  ever  the 
better  for  him.  It  was  hardly  possible  to  be  in  his  compa- 
ny, and  not  to  hear  such  things  from  him,  as,  if  well 
weighed,  might  have  been  enough  to  make  one  out  of  con- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  45 

ceit  with  sin,  and  in  love  with  virtue,  as  long  as  one  lived. 
Though  he  did  not  say,  (as  Titus  once),  yet  by  his  actions 
we  may  judge  he  thought  that  he  had  even  quite  lost  a  day, 
when  none  had  gained  somewhat  by  him.  He  lived  as  if 
he  had  been  quickened  with  that  saying,  (which  I  have 
somewhere  met  with  in  Tertullian)  Quid  prodest  esse,  quod 
esse  non  prodest  ?  "  To  what  purpose  is  it  to  live,  and  not 
to  live  to  some  good  purpose  ?" 

But  this  was  that  (this  ardent  love  to  the  souls  of  men) 
that  quickly  deprived  us  of  his  company;  it  carried  him 
down  into  the  country,  where,  how  he  demeaned  and  carried 
himself,  let  others  speak. 


CHAP.  HI. 

A  brief  character  of  him  by  that  reverened  person  Mr.  R.  A.  who  was 
nearly  related  to  him,  shewing  how  eminently  he  was  qualified  for 
the  Ministerial  service  and  warfare,  unto  which  he  was  called. 

Of  his  extract  I  shall  say  little  ;  he  was  the  son  of  a 
godly  father,  Mr.  Tobie  Alleine,  sometime  of  the  Devizes, 
an  understanding,  affectionate,  prudent,  and  signally  humble 
and  experienced  christian,  who  died  suddenly  but  sweetly, 
his  son  surviving  him  not  above  a  year  or  two.  He  having 
been  languishing  for  some  time,  at  length  seemed  to  be  upon 
recovery,  and  went  about  his  house.  On  the  morning  be- 
fore he  died,  he  rose  about  four ;  about  ten  or  eleven  he 
came  down  out  of  his  closet,  and  called  for  something  to  eat, 
which  being  prepared,  he  gave  thanks,  but  could  not  eat 
any  thing.  His  wife  perceiving  a  sudden  change  in  him 
persuaded  him  to  go  to  his  bed  ;  he  answered  "No  ;  but  I 
will  die  in  my  chair,  and  I  am  not  afraid  to  die."  He  sat 
down  and  only  said,  "My  life  is  hid  with  Christ  in  God  ;" 
and  then  he  closed  his  eyes  with  his  own  hands,  and  died 
immediately.  No  more  of  the  father  :  Concerning  his  son 
I  shall  speak. 

What  he  was,  and  what  his  temper  and  behaviour  was, 
As  a  Man, 
As  a  Christian, 
As  a  Minister. 

I.  ^s  a  J\Ian.     He  was,  1.  of  quick  natural  parts,  and 
5 


46 


THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  III.) 


great  acquired  abilities,  concerning  which  I  shall  need  say- 
no  more,  there  being  a  fuller  account  given  by  another.  2. 
Of  a  composed,  grave,  and  serious  temper  and  behaviour, 
not  at  all  morose,  but  full  of  candour,  free,  affable,  cheerful, 
and  courteous. 

II.  Jls  a  Christian.  He  was,  for  exemplary  holiness, 
and  heavenliness  of  mind  and  life,  much  elevated  above  the 
ordinary  rank.  He  lived  much  in  delightful  communion 
with  God  ;  his  soul  was  greatly  exercised  in  divine  contem- 
plation ;  and  he  would  sometimes  speak  (to  provoke  others, 
whom  he  wished  the  same  delights,  to  the  same  exercise) 
what  ineffable  pleasure,  sweetness,  and  satisfaction  his  soul 
had  found  in  his  stated  meditations  on  the  Divine  Attributes, 
distinctly  one  by  one.  In  his  discourses  he  would  speak 
much  and  passionately  to  the  commending  and  exalting  of 
the  divine  goodness,  and  of  the  inexpressible  dearness  and 
tenderness  of  the  divine  love.  In  prayer  he  was  not  ordi- 
narily so  much  in  confession  or  complaining  of  corruption 
and  infirmities,  though  he  expressed  a  due  sense  of  these,  as 
in  the  admiring  and  praising  of  God  in  his  infinite  glorious 
perfections,  in  the  mention  of  his  wonderful  works,  particu- 
larly of  those  wonders  of  his  love  revealed  in  Jesus  Christ. 
In  some  of  his  letters  to  me,  when  he  had  been  speaking  of 
the  grace  and  goodness  of  God  to  him,  (of  the  sense  whereof 
he  would  seem  to  be  even  quite  swallowed  up),  he  would 
break  off  in  some  such  expressions  as  these,  "  I  am  full  of 
the  mercies  of  the  Lord  ;  O  love  the  Lord  for  me ;  O  praise  the 
Lord  for  my  sake  ;  O  help  me,  help  me  to  praise  the  Lord  !" 

His  whole  life  was  adorned  and  beautified  with  the  admi- 
rable lustre  of  his  particular  personal  graces. 

1.  He  was  a  man  of  love.  His  sweet,  .amicable,  and  court- 
eous converse  was  such  as  made  him  the  delicicE*  of  his  ac- 
quaintance, and  made  way  for  the  entertainment  both  of 
his  serious  counsels  and  severer  reproofs.  He  grew  dear 
unto  the  saints  that  knew  him,  because  they  saw  in  his  very 
face  and  all  his  carriages,  how  very  dear  they  were  to  him. 
His  compassion  to  those  in  distress,  his  bounty  to  those  in 
want,  (wherein  he  abounded  beyond  his  ability,;  his  for- 
bearance in  case  of  offences,  his  affectionate  language  and 
carriage,  his  readiness  to  all  obliging  offices  of  love  to  his 

*  The  delight. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE,  47 

relations,  to  his  friends,  to  strangers,  to  enemies,  did  evi- 
dently declare  how  he  loved  them.  Especially  his  love  was 
let  forth  in  fuller  streams  upon  the  congregation  where  he 
exercised  his  ministry.  The  people  of  his  care,  where  the 
people  of  his  delight.  His  ardent  longing  for  their  souls,  his 
rejoicing  in  their  souls'  prosperity,  his  bleedings  and  break- 
ings of  soul  under  any  of  their  falls  or  infirmities,  his  inces- 
sant labours  among  them,  both  publicly  and  from  house  to 
house,  his  frequent  and  affectionate  letters  to  them  when  he 
was  absent,  his  earnest  desire  to  live  and  die  and  be  buried 
amongst  them,  (declaring  to  them,  "  That  if  he  died  within 
fifty  miles  of  Taunton,  his  will  was  to  be  brought  and  bu- 
ried there,  that  his  bones  might  be  laid  with  their  bones,  bis 
dust  mingle  with  their  dust") — these  all  declare  how  greatly 
they  were  in  his  heart. 

2.  He  was  a  man  of  courage.  1.  He  feared  no  dangers 
in  the  way  of  his  duty,  knowing  that  He  that  icalks  vp' 
rightlij  walks  surely.  In  cases  less  clear,  he  was  very  in- 
quisitive to  understand  his  way,  and  then  he  fixed  without 
fear.  2.  He  feared  not  the  faces  of  men  ;  but  where  occa- 
sion was,  he  was  bold  in  admonishing,  and  faithful  in  re- 
proving ;  which  ungrateful  duty  he  yet  managed  with  such 
prudence  and  such  expressions  of  love  and  compassion  to 
souls,  as  made  his  way  into  hearts  more  easy,  and  his  work 
more  successful. 

3.  He  was  a  son  of  peace.  Both  a  zealous  peace-maker 
among  differing  brethren,  in  case  of  personal  quarrels  and 
contentions ;  and  he  was  also  of  sober  and  peaceful  princi- 
ples and  a  healing  spirit,  as  to  parties  or  factions  upon  the 
account  of  religion.  He  had  an  awful  and  reverend  regard 
to  magistrates,  abhorring  all  provoking  and  insolent  expres- 
sions, or  mutinous  and  tumultuous  actions  against  them. 

4.  He  teas  a  man  of  truth  and  righteousness ;  both  as  to 
his  own  personal  practice,  and  also  was  much  in  pressing  it 
upon  others,  especially  professors  of  religion,  to  be  exem- 
plarily  just  in  their  dealings,  and  true  in  their  words,  to  be 
wary  in  promising,  and  punctual  in  performing.  Oh  !  how 
often  and  passionately  have  I  heard  him  bewailing  the  sins 
of  promise-breaking  and  deceitful  dealing,  whereof  such  as 
he  hath  known  to  be  guilty  have  understood,  both  by  word 
and  writing,  how  much  his  soul  was  grieved  at  them,  for 
the  wrong  they  did  hereby  to  their  own  souls  especially,  and 
the  reproach  they  brought  upon  the  gospel  of  our  Lord. 


48  THE  LIFE  AND   DE  VTH   OF  (cHAP.  III.) 

5.  He  was  of  great  patience.  To  say  nothing  of  his  beha- 
viour under  sufferings  of  other  kinds,  his  great  weakness,  and 
long  languishing  for  some  years  together,  and  his  constant  se- 
renity, caUns,  and  quietness  of  spirit,  in  all  that  time, — so  far 
from  the  least  touch  of  murmuring,  that  he  was  still  blessing 
the  Lord  for  his  tender  dealings  with  him, — have  given  the 
world  a  full  proof  that  he  was  of  a  patient  spirit. 

6.  He  luas  eminent  in  liberality.  He  not  only  did,  but 
devised  liberal  things,  and  by  liberal  things  did  he  stand;  he 
studied  and  considered  how  he  might  both  give  himself,  and 
procure  from  others,  relief  for  those  in  want.  He  gave  much 
alms  daily,  both  in  the  place  where  he  lived  and  wherever 
he  came.  When  there  were  collections  at  any  time  for 
pious  and  charitable  uses,  he  stirred  up  others  to  bountiful 
giving,  both  by  word,  and  also  by  his  example.  In  the  col- 
lection of  the  Fire  in  London,  he  gave  publickly  such  a  libe- 
ral proportion  as  he  thought  meet  to  be  an  example  to 
others  ;  and,  (as  I  came  occasionally  to  understand,)  lest  it 
should  be  misjudged  if  he  had  been  known  to  give  more,  he 
gave  more  than  as  much  again  secretly.  He  distributed 
much  among  his  relations.  His  aged  father  and  divers  of 
his  brethren,  with  their  large  families,  being  fallen  into  de- 
cay, he  took  great  care  for  them  all,  and  gave  education  to 
some,  pensions  to  others,  portions  to  others  of  them  ;  and, 
notwithstanding  all  this,  he  had  but  a  very  small  matter  of 
stock  to  begin  upon,  and  never  above  eighty  pounds  per  an- 
num, that  I  know  of;  and  near  the  one  half  of  his  time, 
not  above  half  so  much  ;  only  by  the  industry  of  his  wife, 
who  for  divers  years  kept  a  boarding-school,  his  income  was 
for  that  time  considerably  enlarged.  He  took  great  pains  in 
journeyings  abroad  to  many  gentlemen,  and  other  rich  men 
in  the  country,  to  procure  a  standing  supply  for  'such  JVon- 
conforming,  ministers  as  were  in  want. 

7.  He  ivas  of  an  active  spirit.  He  went  about  doing 
good.  As  he  was  abundant  and  incessant  in  his  labours  in 
the  congregation  where  he  lived  ;  so  wherever  he  came,  he 
would  be  scattering  some  good  seed,  not  only  among  the 
adult,  but  he  would  be  dealing  much  with  the  children  in 
those  tamilies  into  which  he  came,  asking  them  questions, 
giving  them  counsel,  and  sometimes  leaving  them  his  counsel 
in  writing.  In  his  own  family  (which  was  great  whilst  his 
wife  kept  boarders)  he  was  exceedingly  industrious ;  the 
gravity  of  his  carriage,  contempered  with  much  sweetness 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  49 

and  affability  towards  those  young  ones,  begat  in  many  of 
them  the  awe  and  love  as  of  children  to  their  father,  and 
made  way  for  the  success  of  his  endeavours  with  them, 
which  was  considerable  upon  divers  of  them.  At  Bath, 
while  he  lay  sick  there,  he  sent  for  many  of  the  poor,  both 
old  and  children,  and  gave  them  catechisms,  engaging  them 
to  learn  them,  and  give  him  an  account ;  who  came  cheer- 
fully and  frequently  to  him,  being  encouraged  hereto  by  his 
familiar  and  winning  carriage,  his  giving  them  money,  his 
feeding  and  feasting  them.  He  would  sometimes  say,  "  It 
is  a  pity  that  counsel  of  our  Lord  (Luke  iv.  13.)  of  feasting 
the  poor,  was  not  more  practised  among  christians." 

8.  He  was  of  a  liumble  spirit.  Though  God  had  so  ex- 
ceedingly lifted  him  up  in  the  hearts  of  others,  yet  he  was 
not  puffed  up  in  his  own.  He  was  low  in  his  own  eyes, 
and  despised  the  praise  of  men.  His  whole  carriage  was 
without  the  least  ostentation,  and  he  was  of  great  conde- 
scension to  the  weakest  or  meanest.  Once  or  twice  he  was 
complaining  to  me  of  the  pride  of  his  heart;  I  (judging  it 
to  proceed  rather  from  a  holy  jealousy  of  himself,  and  a  ten- 
derness of  the  least  spark  of  that  evil,  than  from  any  power 
it  had  upon  him)  replied  to  him  (as  I  remember)  to  this 
purpose;  "If  he  had  a  proud  heart,  he  had  it  to  himself, 
for  none  else  could  perceive  it."  But  he  answered,  "  Some 
men  that  are  proud  enough,  have  more  wit  than  to  let  every 
one  know  it."  Another  time  making  the  same  complaint 
in  a  letter  to  me,  he  added  this,  "But  my  naughty  heart, 
whilst  I  am  writing  this,  is  in  hope  you  will  not  believe  me." 
So  watchful  was  he,  as  to  espy  and  check  the  least  motions 
of  that  lust  which  he  so  much  abhorred, 

HI.  As  a  JMiiiister.  He  was  settled  in  Taunton  Mag- 
dalen, as  an  assistant  to  the  Reverend  Pastor  there  ;  with 
whom,  as  a  son  with  the  father,  he  served  in  the  gospel.  I 
shall  say  nothing  here,  there  being  a  large  account  given 
under  the  hand  of  that  worthy  person. 

But  besides  his  labours  in  that  great  congregation  in  which 
alone  he  was  fixed,  the  care  for  many  other  congregations 
was  daily  upon  him.  He  went  firth  frequently  into  seve- 
ral places  about  the  country,  amongst  the  poor  ignorant 
people  that  live  in  dark  corners  and  had  none  to  take  care 
of  them,  and  both  preached  to  them  himself,  and  stirred  up 
many  of  his  brethren  :  whose  forward  minds  readily  joined 

6* 


50  THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  (cHAP.  IV.) 

with  him,  to  set  up  standing  lectures  amongst  them.  He 
had  an  eye  to  poor  Wales,  and  had  an  influence  upon  the 
sending  over  some  ministers  to  them.  He  resolved  also  to 
have  gone  and  spent  some  time  amongst  them  himself,  and 
by  all  the  dissuasions  of  his  friends,  from  his  great  weakness 
and  unfitness  for  travel,  he  was  hardly  withheld  from  his 
purpose. 


CHAP.  IV. 

An  account  of  his  godly  life  and  practice,  and  of  the  course  of  his  Min- 
istry in  Taunton,  given  by  Mr.  George  Newton,  the  Reverend  Pas- 
tor there,  whose  assistant  he  was. 

Mr.  Joseph  Alleine  came  to  my  assistance,  in  the  year 
1655,  being  then  in  the  one  and  twentieth  year  of  his  age ; 
and  we  continued  together  with  much  mutual  satisfaction. 

I  soon  observed  him  to  be  a  young  man  of  singular  ac- 
complishments, natural  and  acquired.  His  intellectuals 
solid,  his  memory  strong,  his  affections  lively,  his  learning 
much  beyond  the  ordinary  size.  And  above  all,  his  holiness 
eminent,  his  conversation  exemplary;  in  brief,  he  had  a 
good  head  and  a  better  heart. 

He  spent  a  considerable  part  of  his  time  in  private  con- 
verses with  God  and  his  own  soul ;  he  delighted  very  much  to 
perform  his  secret  devotions  in  the  view  of  heaven,  and  the 
open  air,  when  he  could  find  advantages  fit  for  his  purpose. 
He  used  to  keep  many  days  alone,  and  then  a  private  room 
would  not  content  him,  but  (if  he  could)  he  would  withdraw 
himself  to  a  solitary  house,  that  had  no  inhabitant  in  it; 
And  herein  he  was  gratified  often  by  some  private  friends  of 
his,  to  whom  he  did  not  impart  his  design  :  Perhaps  it 
was,  that  he  might  freely  use  his  voice  as  his  aflections  led 
him,  without  such  prudential  considerations  and  restraints 
as  would  have  been  necessary  in  another  place ;  and 
that  he  might  converse  with  God  without  any  avocation  or 
distraction. 

His  conversation  with  others,  was  always  mingled  with 
heavenly  and  holy  discourses  ;  he  was  ready  to  instruct,  and 
to  exhort,  and  to  reprove  ;  which  he  never  failed  to  do  (when 
he  thought  it  necessary)  whatever  the  event  might  be  :    But 


THE  REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  51 

he  performed  it  usually  with  such  respect,  humility,  tender- 
ness, self-condemnation,  and  compassion,  that  a  reproof  from 
him  did  seldom,  if  at  all  miscarry. 

In  the  houses  where  he  sojourned,  their  hands  fed  one, 
but  his  lips  fed  many  ;  God  freely  poured  grace  into  his 
lips,  and  he  freely  poured  it  out.  None  could  live  quietly 
in  any  visible  and  open  sin,  under  his  inspection  :  When 
he  came  to  any  house  to  take  up  his  abode  there,  he  brought 
salvation  with  him  ;  when  he  departed,  he  left  salvation 
behind  him.  His  manner  was,  when  he  was  ready  to 
depart,  and  to  transplant  himself  into  some  other  family, 
(as  that  the  exigence  of  his  condition  and  the  time  did  more 
than  once  constrain  him  to,)  to  call  the  people  one  by  one 
into  his  chamber ;  from  whence,  it  was  observed,  that 
scarce  any  one  returned  with  dry  eyes. 

In  matters  of  religion,  and  the  first  table,  his  strictness 
was  so  exemplary,  (which  was  near  to  rigour)  that  I  have 
scarce  known  any  of  his  years  keep  pace  with  him.  Surely 
he  did  more  than  others ;  his  righteousness  exceeded  not 
the  Publican  only,  but  the  Pharisees  too.  He  was  much 
taken  with  Monsieur  de  Renty  (whose  life  he  read  often), 
and  imitated  some  of  his  severities  upon  better  grounds. 
How  often  I  have  heard  him  to  admire  (among  many  other 
things)  especially  his  self-annihilation,  striving  continually 
to  be  nothing,  that  God  might  be  all. 

But  here  he  stayeth  not,  he  was  a  second  taBle  man,  a 
man  of  morals  ;  I  never  knew  him  spotted  in  the  least  de- 
gree with  any  unjust  or  uncharitable  act.  And  I  am  sure, 
the  many  failings  of  professors  in  this  kind,  touched  him  to 
the  very  quick,  and  brought  him  low  ;  drew  prayers,  tears, 
complaints,  and  lamentations,  both  by  word  and  letter  from 
him,  though  yet  the  Lord  would  not  permit  him  to  behold 
and  reap  the  fruit  before  he  died. 

He  had  an  eminently  free  and  bountiful  heart  to  his  pow- 
er, and  I  may  truly  say,  beyond  his  power  ;  yea,  much  be- 
yond it,  he  was  willing  of  himself.  It  is  but  seldom  that 
the  best  do  need  restraint  in  these  matters  ;  and  yet  we  read 
of  some  who  brought  more  than  enough,  yea,  much  more 
than  enough.  (Exod.  xxxvi.  5.)  So  that  there  was  a  pro- 
clamation  issued  out,  to  put  a  stop  upon  their  bounty,  and 
it  is  added  presently,  so  the  people  were  restrained.  Men 
universally  almost  do  need  a  spur,  but  he  did  rather  need  a 
bridle.     When  other  men  gave  little  out  of  much,  he  gave 


52  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  IV.) 

much  out  of  little  ;  and  while  they  heaped  and  gathered  up, 
he  dispersed  and  scattered  abroad.  He  did  not  hide  him- 
self from  his  own  flesh,  but  was  helpful  to  relations,  as  some 
of  them  have  great  reason  to  acknowledge.  His  charity  be- 
gan at  home,  but  it  did  not  end  there  ;  for  he  did  good  to  all, 
(according  to  his  opportunities)  though  especially  to  the 
household  of  faith.  He  considered  the  poor,  he  studied  their 
condition  ;  he  devised  liberal  things  ;  he  was  full  of  holy 
projects,  for  the  advancement  of  the  good  of  others,  both 
spiritual  and  temporal ;  which  he  pursued  with  such  irresis- 
tible vigour,  and  zeal,  and  activity,  that  they  seldom  proved 
abortive. 

He  was  a  man  of  extraordinary  condescension  to  the  in- 
firmities of  weaker  brethren,  as  they  that  are  most  holy,  and 
best  acquainted  with  themselves,  are  wont  to  be :  "  In- 
structing those  that  were  contrary  minded  in  meekness  ;  if 
God  perad venture  would  give  them  repentance  to  the  ac- 
knowledging of  the  truth,  restoring  those  who  were  over- 
taken  with  a  fault,  with  the  spirit  of  meekness."  So  deal- 
ing with  them  in  such  a  loving,  sweet,  and  humble  way,  as 
considering  himself,  lest  he  also  might  be  tempted.  In  their 
confessed  failings,  he  was  no  way  supercilious,  captious,  and 
censorious  ;  he  would  maintain  a  good  opinion  of  another, 
upon  a  narrower  footing  than  many  others,  who  (to  say  no 
more)  were  nothing  stricter,  holier,  humbler,  than  himself 
would  be.  His  charity  believed  all  things  that  were  to  be 
believed,  and  hoped  all  things  that  were  to  be  hoped.  And 
when  he  deeply  condemned  the  action,  he  would  not  judge 
of  the  estate  :  Indeed  he  had  more  charity  for  others  than 
himself;  and  though  he  were  sufficiently  mild  in  his  judg- 
ment of  others,  he  was  severe  enough  in  his  judgment  of 
himself. 

He  was  not  peremptory  in  matters  that  belong  to  doubtful 
disputations  :  He  laid  no  more  weight  and  stress  on  notions 
and  opinions  in  religion,  that  wholly  depend  upon  topical 
arguments,  than  belongs  to  them.  He  was  not  like  many 
who  are  so  over-confident  in  their  determintions  that  they 
will  hardly  hold  communion  ;  nay,  scarce  so  much  as  a 
pleasing  conversation  with  any  man,  how  gracious  soever, 
who  cannot  think,  and  say,  and  act  in  every  thing  as  they 
do.  He  would  allow  his  fellow-members  the  latitude  that 
the  apostle  doth  ;  and  so  would  freely  and  familiarly  con- 
verse with  those  who  were  sound  in  the  faith  (as  to  the  fun- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE  53 

damentals  of  religion),  and  who  were  strict  and  holy  in 
their  lives,  of  all  persuasions. 

His  ministerial  studies  were  more  than  usually  easy  to 
him,  being  of  a  quick  conceit,  a  ready,  strong,  and  faithful 
memory,  a  free  expression  (which  was  rather  nervous  and 
substantial,  than  soft  *and  delicate),  and,  which  was  best  of 
all,  a  holy  heart  that  boiled  and  bubbled  up  with  good  mat- 
ter. This  furnished  him  on  all  occasions,  not  with  warm 
atiections  only,  but  with  holy  notions  too.  For  his  heart 
was  an  epistle,  written,  not  v»'ith  ink,  but  with  the  Spirit  of 
the  living  God,  and  out  of  this  epistle,  he  drew  many  ex- 
cellent things.  In  the  course  of  his  ministry,  he  was  a 
good  man,  and  in  his  heart  a  good  treasure  ;  whence  he 
was  wont  continually  to  bring  forth  good  things,  both  in 
public  and  in  private. 

He  was  apt  to  preach  and  pray,  most  ready  on  all  occa- 
sions to  layout  himself  in  such  work,  yea,  spending  himself 
in  such  work,  when  my  sudden  distemper  seized  upon  me, 
put  him  at  any  time  (as  many  times  they  did)  upon  very 
short  and  sudden  preparations,  he  never  refused  ;  no,  nor 
so  much  as  fluctuated  in  the  undertaking  ;  but  being  called, 
he  confidently  cast  himself  upon  the  Lord,  and  trusted  per- 
fectly to  His  assistance  who  had  never  failed  him  ;  and  so 
he  readily  and  freely  went  about  his  work  without  distrac- 
tion. 

He  began  upon  a  very  considerable  stock  of  learning,  and 
gifts  ministerial  and  personal,  much  beyond  the  proportion 
of  his  years,  and  grew  exceedingly  in  his  abilities  and 
graces,  in  a  little  time.  So  that  his  profiting  appeared  to 
all  men  ;  he  waxed  very  rich  in  heavenly  treasure,  by  the 
blessing  of  God  on  a  diligent  hand,  so  that  he  was  behind 
in  no  good  gift.  He  found  that  precious  promise  sensibly 
made  good,  to  him  that  hath  (for  the  use  and  good  employ- 
ment) shall  he  given,  and  he  shall  have  abtnidance.  He 
had  no  talent  for  the  napkin,  but  all  for  traffic,  which  he  laid 
out  so  freely  for  his  Master's  use,  that  in  a  little  time  they 
multiplied  so  fast,  that  the  napkin  could  not  hold  them.  I 
heard  a  worthy  minister  say  of  him  once  (not  without  much 
admiration).  Whence  hath  this  man  these  things  ?  He  un- 
derstood whence  he  had  them  well  enough,  and  so  did  f, 
even  from  above,  whence  every  good  and  perfect  gift  pro- 
ceedeth  :  God  blessed  him  in  all  spiritual  blessirgs  in  hea- 
venly  thing.s,   and   he   returned  all   to  heaven   again  ;  he 


54  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   IV.) 

served  God  with  all  his  might  and  all  his  strength ;  he  was 
abundant  in  the  work  of  the  Lord ;  he  did  not  go,  but  run 
the  ways  of  his  commandments  ;  he  made  histe  and  linger, 
ed  not  ;  he  did  run,  and  was  not  weary  :  he  did  wall:,  and 
was  nat  faint.  He  pressed  hard  towards  the  mark,  till  he 
attained  it ;  his  race  was  short  and  swift,  and  his  end  glo- 
rious. 

He  was  infinitely  and  insatiably  greedy  of  the  conversion 
of  souls  wherein  he  had  no  small  success  in  the  time  of  his 
ministry  ;  And  to  this  end,  he  poured  out  his  very  heart  in 
prayer  and  preaching  ;  he  imparted  not  the  gospel  only,  but 
his  own  soul.  His  supplications,  and  his  exhortations, 
many  times  were  so  affectionate,  so  full  of  holy  zeal,  life, 
and  vigour,  that  they  quite  overcame  his  hearers:  he  melted 
over  them,  so  that  he  thawed  and  mollified,  and  sometimes 
dissolved  the  hardest  hearts.  But  while  he  melted  thus,  he 
wasted,  and  at  last  consumed  himself. 

He  was  not  satisfied  to  spend  himself  in  public,  but  used 
constantly  to  go  from  house  to  house,  and  thereto  deal  par- 
ticularly (where  he  had  a  free  reception)  both  with  the  gover- 
nors, and  with  the  children,  and  with  the  servants  of  the 
household,  instructing  them  especially  in  the  great  funda- 
mental necessary  truths  of  the  law,  and  of  the  gospel,  where 
he  observed  them  to  be  ignorant;  gentle  reproving  them, 
where  he  found  any  thin^  amiss  among  them.  Exhorting 
them  to  diligence,  both  in  their  general  and  particular  call- 
ings, entreating  them  who  were  defective,  by  any  means  to 
set  up  the  worship  of  God  in  their  houses,  and  to  make  them 
little  churches,  by  constant  reading  of  the  scripture,  so  that 
the  word  of  Christ  might  deeply  dwell  among  and  in  them 
richly,  by  careful  catechising  of  the  children,  and  the  ser- 
vants, if  the  governors  were  able  ;  by  frequent  meditations, 
conferences,  repetitions  of  that  which  they  had  heard  in 
public,  especially  by  daily  prayer,  morning  and  evening, 
that  so  they  might  avoid  that  dreadful  indignation  which 
hangs  over,  and  is  ready  to  be  poured  out  upon  the  families 
that  call  not  upon  God.  He  made  the  best  inspection  that  he 
could,  into  the  state  of  every  particular  person,  and  so  ac- 
cordingly applied  himself  to  check,  to  comfort,  to  encourage, 
as  he  found  occasion.  All  which  he  did  with  so  much 
tenderness,  humility,  and  self-denial,  that  they  gained  very 
much  on  the  affections  and  respects  of  all  that  received 
him,  and  wrought  them  at  least  to  outward  conformity  ;  so 


IHE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  55 

that  they  who  were  not  visited  in  the  beginning,  atlength  came 
forth  and  called  upon  him  to  come  to  their  families  and 
help  them. 

Thus  he  did  wear  himself  away,  and  gave  light  and  heat 
to  others.  He  usually  allowed  himself  too  little  sleep  to  re- 
cruit and  to  repair  the  spirits  which  he  wasted  with  wak- 
ing.  His  manner  was  to  rise  at  four  o'clock  at  the  utmost, 
many  times  before,  and  that  in  the  cold  winter  mornings, 
that  he  might  be  with  God  betime,  and  so  get  room  for 
other  studies  and  employments.  His  extraordinary  watch- 
ings,  constant  cares,  excessive  labours  in  the  work  of  his 
ministry,  public  and  private,  were  generally  apprehended  to 
be  the  cause  of  those  distempers  and  decays,  and  at  last  of 
that  ill  health  of  body,  whereof  in  the  end  he  died. 

He  was  the  gravest,  strictest,  most  serious,  and  composed 
young  man  that  I  had  ever  yet  the  happiness  to  be  acquaint- 
ed with.  And  yet  he  was  not  rigid  in  his  principles,  his 
moderation  was  known  to  all  men  that  knew  him. 


CHAP.  V. 

A  Further  Account  of  his  Catechising,  both  in  public,  and  private  by 
Mr.  G. 

When  he  did  catechise  the  greater  sort  in  public,  before  he 
was  silenced,  his  manner  was  to  begin  with  prayer  for  a 
blessing  upon  that  exercise,  And  having  proposed  some 
questions  out  of  the  Jlssembly^s  Catechism  to  them,  he  was 
careful,  not  only  to  make  them  perfect  in  rehearsing  the  an- 
swers there  set  down,  but  also  to  bring  them  to  a  clear  un- 
derstanding of  the  sense  and  meaning  of  the  said  answers- 
and  of  all  the  terms  and  phrases  in  which  they  are  express- 
ed ;  and  to  draw  some  practical  useful  inferences  from  those 
heads  of  divinity  contained  in  them.  Moreover,  when  any 
distinction  was  necessary  for  the  clearing  up  of  the  matter 
in  hand,  he  would  also  be  instructing  his  Catechumens  there- 
in. Now  this  he  would  do,  by  proposing  several  other  col- 
lateral questions,  besides  those  in  the  Catechism ;  which 
questions,  together  with  the  answers  to  them,  himself  had 
before  drawn  up,  and  sent  to  them  in  writing. 

In  the  evening  of  the  Lord's  Day,  his  course  was  to  repeat 


56  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  V.) 

his  sermon  again,  in  the  public  place  of  worship,  where 
abundance  of  people  constantly  resorted  to  hear  him  ;  which 
when  he  had  done,  several  youths  were  called  forth  which 
did  give  him  an  account  of  the  heads  of  all  his  sermon  by 
memory. 

As  for  his  method  in  going  from  house  to  house,  for  the 
instructing  of  private  families,  it  was  this  :  He  would  give 
them  notice  of  his  coming  the  day  before,  desiring  that  he 
might  have  admittance  to  their  houses,  to  converse  with 
them  about  their  soul  concerns,  and  that  they  would  have 
their  whole  family  together  against  he  came.  When  he 
came,  and  the  family  were  called  together,  he  would  be  in- 
structing the  younger  sort  in  the  principles  of  religion,  by 
asking  several  questions  in  the  Catechism,  the  answers  to 
which,  he  would  be  opening  and  explaining  to  them.  Also 
he  would  be  inquiring  of  them  about  their  spiritual  estate 
and  condition,  labouring  to  make  them  sensible  of  the  evil 
and  danger  of  sin,  the  corruption  and  wickedness  of  our 
natures,  the  misery  of  an  unconverted  state  ;  stirring  them 
up  to  look  after  the  true  remedy  proposed  in  the  gospel,  to 
turn  from  all  their  sins  unto  God,  to  close  with  Christ  upon 
his  own  terms  ;  to  follow  after  holiness,  to  watch  over  their 
hearts  and  lives,  to  mortify  their  lusts,  to  redeem  their  time, 
to  prepare  for  eternity.  These  things  as  he  would  be  ex- 
plaining to  their  understandings,  that  they  might  have  clear 
apprehensions  about  them,  so  he  would  be  pressing  the  prac- 
tice of  them  upon  their  consciences,  with  the  most  cogent 
arguments  and  considerations,  minding  them  of  the  great 
privileges  they  did  enjoy,  the  many  gospel  sermons  that  they 
did  or  might  hear,  the  many  talents  they  were  entrusted 
withal,  and  the  great  account  that  they  had  to  give  to  the 
God  of  Heaven ;  telling  them  how  sad  it  would  be  with 
them  another  day,  if  after  all  this  they  should  come  short 
of  salvation.  Besides,  he  would  leave  with  them  several 
counsels  and  directions  to  be  carefully  remembered  and  prac- 
tised for  the  good  of  their  souls.  Those  that  were  serious 
and  religious,  he  would  labour  to  help  forward  in  holiness, 
by  answering  their  doubts,  resolving  their  cases,  encouraging 
them  under  their  difficulties.  And  before  he  did  go  from 
any  family,  he  would  deal  with  the  heads  of  that  family, 
and  such  others  as  were  grown  to  years  of  discretion,  singly 
and  apart ;  that  so  he  might,  as  much  as  possibly  he  could, 
come  to  know  the  condition  of  each  particular  person  in  his 


THE    KEV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  67 

flock,  and  address  himself  in  his  discourse  as  nnight  be  suit- 
able to  every  of  them.  If  he  perceived  that  they  did  live 
in  the  neglect  of  family  duties,  he  would  exhort  and  press 
them  to  set  up  the  worship  of  God  in  their  families,  as  read, 
ing,  prayer  ;  and  directing  them  how  to  set  about  it,  and  to 
take  time  for  secret  duties  too.  Such  as  were  masters  of 
families,  he  would  earnestly  persuade  and  desire,  as  they 
did  tender  the  honour  of  Christ  and  the  welfare  of  their 
children  and  servants'  souls,  to  let  them  have  some  time 
every  day  for  such  private  duties,  and  to  encourage  them  in 
the  performance  of  them  ;  neither  would  he  leave  them  be- 
fore he  had  a  promise  of  them  so  to  do.  Sometimes  also  he 
would  himself  go  to  prayer  before  his  departure.  This  was 
his  method  in  the  general  ;  although  with  such  necessary  va- 
riation in  his  particular  visits,  as  the  various  state  and  con- 
dition of  the  several  families  did  require.  If  the  family 
where  he  came  where  ignorant,  he  would  insist  the  longer  in 
instructing  and  catechising  ;  if  loose,  in  reproving  and  con. 
vincing  ;   if  godly,  in  encouraging  and  directing. 

He  did  use  to  spend  five  afternoons  every  week  in  such 
exercise,  from  one  or  two  o'clock,  until  seven  in  the  evening: 
In  which  space  of  time  he  would  visit  sometimes  three  or 
four  families  in  an  afternoon,  and  sometimes  more,  according 
as  they  were  greater  or  less.  This  course  he  would  take 
throughout  the  town  ;  and  when  he  had  gone  through,  he 
would  presently  begin  again,  that  he  might  visit  every  family 
as  often  as  he  could.  He  often  did  bless  God  for  the  great 
success  that  he  had  in  these  exercises,  saying  that  God  had 
made  him  as  instrumental  of  good  to  souls  this  way,  as  by 
his  public  preaching,  if  not  more.  When  the  ministers  of 
this  county  of  Somerset,  at  one  of  their  Associations'  which 
heretofore  they  held,  were  debating  whether  and  how  far  it 
were  incumbent  upon  them  to  set  up  private  family  instruc- 
tion in  their  particular  charges,  Mr.  Alleiue  was  the  man 
that  they  pitched  upon  for  to  draw  up  his  reasons  for  that 
practice,  together  with  a  method  for  the  more  profitable  man- 
agement of  it. 

An  Abridgement  of  what  he  drew  itp,  here  follow eth  : 

It  being  the  unquestionable  duty  of  all  the  ministers  of 
the  church  of  Christ,  to  take  heed  to  all  the  flock  over  tchom 
the  Holiest  hath  made  them  overseers  ;  and  to  teach  and 
preach,  not  only  publicly,    but  from  house  to  house;    not 

6 


68  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  V.) 

only  takino:  a  general  care  of  the  whole,  or  calling  out  the 
chiefest  of  the  sheep  for  our  particular  care  and  inspection, 
as  the  manner  of  some  is,  and  leaving  the  rest  to  sink  or 
swim  ;  but  as  good  shepherds  inquiring  into  their  estates,  ob- 
serving the  particular  marks,  diseases,  strayings  of  our  sheep, 
and  applying  ourselves  suitably  to  their  cases  ;  in  a  word, 
warning  every  man,  that  we  may  present  every  man  perfect 
in  Christ  Jesus.  Therefore  it  behoveth  us  to  study  to  do 
this  great  duty  in  such  a  manner,  as  may  be  acceptable  to 
God  and  profitable  to  our  flocks.  The  directions  for  per- 
forming this  duty,  are  either  more  general  or  more  special ; 
for  the  more  general  directions, — they  are  either  such  as 
concern  the  entrance  on  this  duty,  or  the  performance  of  it. 

I.  For  those  that  concern  the  entrance,  it  will  be  ne- 
cessary, that  we  convince  the  people  of  the  necessity  of  this 
duty.  2.  That  we  study  to  manage  this  great  work  to  our 
people's  best  advantage.  3.  That  we  set  apart  such  set 
times  for  this  great  work  as,  upon  consideration,  we  shall 
find  most  convenient  for  them  and  us,  resolving  to  be  con- 
stant in  observing  them.  4.  That  we  pray  for  wisdom  from 
above,  what  and  how  to  speak.  5.  That  we  send  word  to 
the  people  when  we  intend  to  visit  them,  that  they  dispose 
of  their  business  to  receive  us. 

II.  For  those  that  concern  us,  in  the  managing  of  the 
duty. 

1.  The  family  being  called  together,  we  may  if  time  and 
conveniency  permit,  begin  with  prayer.  2.  The  family  con- 
sisting of  superiors  and  inferiors,  it  would  not  be  amiss  to 
begin  with  the  inferiors  ;  for  many  can  hear  their  children 
and  servants  examined  contentedly,  that  cannot  bear  it 
themselves:  For  that  they  will  not  disdain  to  give  an  ac- 
count of  themselves  before  their  superiors,  though  their  su- 
periors would  disdain  to  give  an  account  before  them  ;  and 
here  it  will  be  necessary  to  inquire  into  their  knowledge, 
practice,  states ; 

1.  Their  knowledge  ;  here  we  may  examine  what  pro- 
gress they  have  rtiade  in  the  principles  of  the  doctrine  of 
Christ,  and  try  them  in  the  Catechism.  2.  What  (hey  do 
gain  hy  the  public  ministry,  what  they  remember  of  the  ser- 
mon last  heard. 

2.  Their jjractice ;  in  their  duty  towards  God;  where  it 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  69 

may  be  useful  to  inquire,  if  they  make  couscience  of  secret 
prayer.  The  necessity  of  it  may  be  expressed,  the  nature 
of  it  opened,  and  some  heads  of  prayer  explained  ;  and  if  they 
be  such  as  need  it,  it  would  be  useful  to  commend  to  them 
some  form  *br  the  present  help.  2.  In  the  duties  of  their 
relations  towards  men;  and  if  they  be  pressed  to  faithful- 
ness, diligence,  uprightness,  the  duties  they  owe  to  those 
that  were  over  them,  it  would  be  very  convenient. 

3.  Into  their  estates  ;  and  here  we  may  take  an  account 
of  them,  what  they  think  of  the  state  of  their  souls,  shewing 
the  paucity  of  them  that  are  saved,  the  desperate  deceitful, 
ness  of  the  heart,  the  infinite  danger  of  being  deceived,  the 
wiles  and  devices  of  Satan  to  beguile  them  ;  from  whence, 
and  such  like  arguments,  we  may  press  them  to  be  diligent 
in  inquiring  what  the  case  of  their  souls  is,  to  be  jealous  of 
themselves  ;  where  we  may  take  occasion  to  shew  them,  1. 
That  every  man,  by  nature,  is  in  a  damnable  estate.  2. 
The  absolute  necessity  of  conversion.  3.  By  what  signs 
they  may  know  whether  they  remain  in,  or  are  delivered 
from,  this  estate  :  Which  signs  should  be  few,  plain,  certain, 
and  infallible,  founded  upon  the  clear  evidence  of  the  v/ord. 
And  because  the  searching  work  is  so  displeasing  to  the 
flesh,  that  it  might  disengage  them  to  come  too  close  at  first, 
it  may  not  be  amiss  to  defer  this  till  we  had  got  some  interest 
in  their  hearts,  by  a  loving  tender  carriage. 

Ill,  The  inferiors  being  thus  dealt  with,  may  be  dismiss- 
ed to  their  several  employments  ;  and  then  we  may  take  oc- 
casion to  discourse  with  the  heads  of  the  families,  proceed- 
ing as  prudence  shall  direct  upon  some  of  the  foremeutioned 
particulars. 

•1.  We  may  inquire  whether  they  perform  this  great  duty 
of  prayer  in  the  family,  offering  them  helps  if  they  need. 

2.  VVe  may  press  them  to  instruct  and  catechise  their 
families. 

3.  We  may  exhort  them  to  the  strict  sanctifying  the 
Lord's  Day. 

4.  If  they  are  poor,  we  may  draw  forth  the  hand  of  our 
bounty  towards  them. 

5.  If  we  know  any  evil  by  them,  we  may  take  them  aside 
privately,  shewing  them  the  sinfulness  of  their  practice,  and 
engaging  them  to  promise  reformation. 

6.  We  should  leave  with  them  some  few  particulars  of 


60  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   V.  y 

greatest  weight,  often  repeating  them  till  they  remember 
them,  engaging  them  to  mind  them  till  we  shall  converse 
with  them  again. 

7.  Our  dealing  with  them  must  be  in  that  manner  that 
may  most  prevail,  and  win  upon  their  hearts. 

(1.)  With  compassion  ;  being  kindly  affectioned  to  them, 
charging,  exhorting,  comforting  every  one  of  them,  as  a  fa- 
ther his  children. 

(2.)  With  prudence  ;  warning  and  teaching  them  in  all 
wisdom,  applying  ourselves  to  the  several  cases  and  capaci- 
ties; — 1.  To  the  rich  in  this  world,  shewing  more  respect 
as  their  places  require,  charging  upon  them  those  duties  that 
are  required  of  them  in  special.  2.  To  the  poor,  you  may 
be  more  plain  and  free,  pressing  upon  them  those  duties  that 
are  most  proper  to  their  condition.  3.  To  the  aged  v\  e  must 
be  more  reverent,  labouring  to  root  out  of  them  the  love  of 
the  world,  shewing  them  the  dangerousness  of  covetousness, 
and  the  necessity  of  making  speedy  preparations  for  eternity. 
4.  The  men  are  to  be  exhorted  to  temperance  and  sobriety  ; 
diligence  in  their  callings,  &c.  5.  Women  to  meekness, 
humility,  subjection  to  their  husbands,  and  constant  infusing 
good  principles  into  their  children. 

(3.)  With  patience  ;  being  gentle  to  all  men;  in  meek- 
ness instructing  those  that  oppose  themselves  ;  bearing  with 
their  dulness,  rudeness,  and  disrespectfulness  ;  waiting  for 
their  repentance. 

(4.)  With  all  faithfulness,  giving  no  occasion  of  offence, 
that  our  ministry  be  not  blamed. 

(5.)  With  zeal,  as  Apollos,  fervent  in  spirit,  teaching  di- 
ligently the  things  of  the  Lord,  &c. 

(6.)  With  plainness,  not  betraying  their  souls  to  hell,  and 
ours  with  them,  for  want  of  faithfulness  and  closeness  in  our 
dealing  with  them.  It  being  not  sufficient  in  general,  that 
no  drunkard,  &c.  shall  inherit  the  kingdom  of  Heaven  ;  but 
telling  them  plainly  and  particularly,  "  Such  is  your  loose- 
ness, your  ignorance,  that  I  fear  you  are  in  an  unconverted 
state." 

(7.)  With  authority  ;  dealing  with  them  in  the  power 
and  demonstration  of  the  Spirit. 

(8.)  With  humility  ;  "not  lording  it  over  God's  heritage, 
but  condescending  to  men  of  low  estates."  Nordisdaining 
to  go  into  the  houses  of  the  meanest. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  61 

IV.  The  sort  of  directions  are  more  special,  respecting 
the  several  sorts  of  our  people,  who  may  be  ranked  into  four 
heads,  the  Ignorant,  Profane,  Formal,  Godly. 

1.  For  the  Ignorant.     Our  work  with  them  will  be. 

(1.)  To  convince  them  that  they  are  ignorant,  which  may 
be  done  by  shewing  their  inability  to  answer  some  plain  fa- 
miliar questions. 

.   (2.)  To  shew  them  the  dangerous,  yea,  the  damnable  na- 
ture of  ignorance. 

(3.)  To  press  them,  with  all  possible  earnestness,  to  labour 
after  knowledge. 

(4. )  To  answer  their  carnal  pleas  for  their  ignorance,  when 
wilful. 

2.  For  the  profane  ;  it  would  be  necessary  to  deal  with 
them  convincingly,  shewing  the  certain  damnation  they  are 
running  upon. 

3.  For  the  Formal  ;  with  these  we  must  deal  searchingly, 
and  shew  them, 

(1.)  How  easily  men  may  mistake  the  form  of  godliness 
for  the  power. 

(2.)  The  undoing  danger  of  resting  in  being  almost  a 
Christian. 

(3.)  The  most  distinguishing  differences  between  a  hypo- 
crite and  a  sincere  christian. 

4.  For  the  Godly :  to  these  we  must  draw  forth  the 
breasts  of  the  promises,  opening  to  them  the  riches  and  ful- 
ness of  Christ;  inquiring  into  their  growth  in  grace  ;  quick- 
ening them  to  labour  atler  assurance ;  to  be  steadfast  in  the 
faith;  patient  in  suffering;  diligent  in  doing  the  will  of 
Chri.-it,  zealous  of  good  works,  always  abounding  more  and 
more. 

There  is  one  thing  more,  in  which  his  self-denial  and  other 
graces  were  very  exemplary  ;  namely,  his  faithfulness  in  re- 
proving the  miscarriages  of  professors,  sparing  none,  whether 
high  or  low,  whether  ministers  or  private  christians  ;  yea, 
although  they  had  been  never  so  dear  in  his  affections,  and 
never  so  obliging  in  their  carriage  to  him,  yet  if  he  found  in 
them  any  thing  that  was  reproveable  and  blame- worthy,  he 
would  deal  with  them  faithfully  and  plainly  about  it,  what- 
soever the  issue  and  event  were. 

One  time  when  he  was  going  about  such  a  work,  he  told 
a  christian  friend  with  whom  he  was  very  intimate  and  fa- 
miliar,  "  Well,"  says  he,   "  I  am  going  about  that  which  is 

6^ 


62 


THE    LIFE    AKD    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   V.) 


like  to  make  a  very  dear  and  obliging  friend  to  become  an 
enemy.  But,  however,  it  cannot  be  omitted,  it  is  better  to 
lose  man's  favour  than  God's."  But  God  was  pleased  (then, 
as  well  as  divers  other  times  besides,  when  he  went  about 
business  of  this  nature)  to  order  things  for  him  better  than 
he  could  have  expected,  and  so  to  dispose  of  the  heart  of  the 
person  with  whom  he  had  to  deal,  that  he  was  so  far  from 
becoming  his  enemy  for  his  conscientious  faithfulness  to 
him,  that  he  loved  him  the  better  ever  after  as  long  as  he 
lived. 

As  to  his  judgment  about  the  Arminian  controversies,  as 
far  as  I  can  perceive,  who  have  discoursed  with  him  about 
them,  it  was  much  what  the  same  with  Dr.  Davenant's  and 
Mr.  Baxter's. 

He  was  a  man  of  a  very  calm  and  peaceable  spirit,  one 
that  loathed  all  tumultuous  carriages  and  proceedings  ;  he 
was  far  from  having  any  other  design  in  his  preaching,  than 
the  advancement  of  the  kingdom  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  by  the 
conversion  and  salvation  of  souls.  This  was  the  mark  that 
he  had  in  his  eye  ;  this  was  that  for  which  he  laboured,  and 
ventured,  and  suffered,  and  for  which  he  thought  he  could 
never  lay  out  himself  enough. 

Though  he  were  but  a  young  man,  yet  in  his  carriage  he 
was  exceeding  serious  and  grave,  and  withal  very  humble, 
courteous  and  aflable,  condescending  to  discourse  with  the 
poorest  and  meanest  persons,  for  their  spiritual  good,  as  soon 
as  with  the  greatest  and  richest. 

And,  indeed,  so  unblameable  and  convincing  was  he  in  the 
whole  of  his  conversation,  that  there  were  very  religious  and 
sober  persons  that  knew  him,  either  in  town  or  country, 
either  ministers  or  people,  (yea,  though  some  of  them  differ- 
ing in  judgment  from  him)  but  did  highly  approve  of  him. 
And  for  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  here  in  these  parts, 
such  was  his  holy  and  discreet  deportment  amongst  them, 
that  he  had  as  great  an  influence  upon  them,  as  few  others 
had  the  like. 

He  was  full  of  holy  projects,  often  bethinking  himself  by 
what  ways  and  means  he  might  more  effectually  promote 
the  honour  of  Christ,  and  the  benefit  of  souls  ;  and  whatso- 
ever he  apprehended  to  be  conducing  to  these  highest  ends, 
he  would  prosecute  with  that  wisdom  and  vigour,  that  he 
seldom  failed  of  bringing  it  to  a  comfoi  table  and  successful 
issue. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  63 

Of  which  projects,  this  is  one  which  I  shall  here  insert. 
Having  considered  how  mnrh  the  conscientious  and  frequent 
performance  of  the  duty  of  self-examination,  might  tend  to 
the  bringing  down  of  sin,  and  furtherance  of  holiness,  both 
in  heart  and  life,  he  did  earnestly  press  tiie  said  duty  on  his 
hearers  in  his  preaching,  directing  them  in  the  performance  ; 
and  not  only  so,  but  dealt  with  them  also  in  private  about 
it,  and  got  a  promise  from  the  most  of  them,  that  they  would 
every  night,  before  they  did  take  their  rest,  set  about  this 
duty  ;  and  spend  some  time  in  secret,  on  purpose  to  call 
themselves  to  an  account,  how  they  had  carried  it  that  day, 
by  proposing  several  questions  to  their  own  hearts,  which 
questions  he  had  referred  to  several  heads,  and  drawn  up  for 
them  in  writing. 

And  not  a  {ew  of  them  have  acknowledged,  that  they  have 
cause  to  bless  God,  who  stirred  him  up  to  put  them  upon 
this  practice,  which  they  have  found  very  helpful  to  them  in 
their  daily  christian  walk. 


USEFUL   QUESTIONS,  WHEREBY  A   CHRISTIAN  MAY  EVERY  DAY 
EXAMINE   HIMSELF. 

Psalm  iv.  4.  Commune  with  your  Heaits  upon  your  Beds, 

Every  evening  before  you  sleep  (unless  you  find  some 
Other  time  in  the  day  more  for  your  advantage  in  this  work) 
sequester  yourself  from  the  world  ;  and  having  set  your 
heart  in  the  presence  of  the  Lord,  charge  it  before  God  to 
answer  to  these  interrogatories. 

For  your  Duties, 

Question  1.  Did  not  God  find  me  on  my  bed,  when  he 
looked  for  me  on  my  knees?     Job  i.  5.  Psalm  v.  3. 

2.  Have  not  I  prayed  to  no  purpose,  or  suffered  wan- 
dering thoughts  to  eat  out  my  duties  ?  Mat.  xviii.  S.  9. 
Jer.  xii.  2. 

3.  Have  not  T  neglected,  or  been  very  overly  in  the  read- 
ing God's  holy  word?     Deut.  xvii.  19.     Josh.  i.  7.  8. 

4.  Have  I   digested   the  sermon  I  heard  lust?     Have  I 


64  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   V.) 

repeated  it   over,  and   prayed  it  over?     Luke  ii.   19.  51. 
Psalm  i.  2.  and  cxix.  6.  11.  97. 

5.  Was  there  not  more  of  custom  and  fashion  in  my 
family  duties,  than  of  conscience  ?  Psalm  ci.  2.  Jer.  xxx. 
22. 

6.  Wherein  have  I  denied  myself  this  day  for  God  ? 
Luke  ix.  23. 

7.  Have  I  redeemed  my  time  from  too  long  or  needless 
visits,  idle  imaginations,  fruitless  discourse,  unnecessary 
sleep,  more  than  needs  of  the  world?  Ephes.  v.  16.  Col. 
iv.  5. 

8.  Have  I  done  any  thing  more  than  ordinary  for  the 
Church  of  God,  in  this  time  extraordinary  ?  2  Cor.  xi.  28. 
Isaiah  Ixii.  6. 

9.  Have  I  took  care  of  my  company?  Prov.  xiii.  20. 
Psalm  cxix.  63. 

10.  Have  not  I  neglected,  or  done  something  against  the 
duties  of  my  relations,  as  a  master,  servant,  husband,  wife, 
parent,  child,  &c.  Ephes.  v.  22.  to  chap.  vi.  9.  Col.  iii. 
18.  to  chap.  iv.  2. 

For  your  Sins. 

Q.  1.  Doth  not  sin  sit  light  ?  Psalm  xxxviii.  4.  Rom. 
vii.  24. 

2.  Am  I  a  mourner  for  the  sins  of  the  land  ?  Ezek.  ix. 
4.     Jer.  ix.  1.  2.  3. 

3.  Do  I  live  in  nothing  that  I  know  or  fear  to  be  a  sin  ? 
Psalm  cxix.  101.  104. 

For  your  Heart. 

Q.  1.  Have  I  been  much  in  holy  ejaculations?  Neh.  ii. 
4.  5. 

2.  Hath  not  God  been  out  of  mind,  heaven  out  of  sight? 
Psalm  xvi.  8.     Jer.  ii.  32.     Phil.  iii.  23. 

3.  Have  I  been  often  looking  into  my  own  heart,  and 
made  conscience  of  vain  thou<rhts  ?  Prov.  iii.  23.  Psalm 
cxix.  113. 

4.  Have  not  I  given  way  to  the  workings  of  pride  or 
passion  ?     2  Chron.  xxxii.  26.     James  iv.  5.  6.  7. 

For  my  Tongue. 

Q.  1.  Have  I  bridled  my  tongue,  and  forced  it  in? 
James  i.  26.  and  iii.  2.  3.  4.     Psalm  xxxix.  1. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  65 

2,  Have  I  spoke  evil  of  no  man?  Titus  iii.  2.  James 
iv.  11. 

3.  Hath  the  law  of  the  Lord  been  in  my  mouth  as  I  sat 
in  my  house,  went  by  the  way,  was  lying  down,  and  rising 
up  ?     Deut.  vi.  6.  7. 

Have  I  come  into  no  company  where  I  have  not  dropped 
something  of  God,  and  left  some  good  savour  behind  ? 
Col.  iv.  6.     Ephes.  iv.  29. 

For  your  Table. 

Q.  I.  Did  I  not  sit  down  with  a  higher  end  than  a  beast, 
merely  to  please  my  appetite  ?  Did  I  eat  and  drink  for  the 
glory  of  God?      1  Cor.  x.  31. 

2.  Was  not  mine  appetite  too  hard  for  me  ?  Jude  12. 
2  Peter  i.  6. 

3.  Did  not  I  arise  from  the  table  without  dropping  any 
thing  of  God  there?  Luke  vii.  36,  &c.  and  xiv.  1.  &c. 
John  vi. 

4.  Did  not  I  mock  with  God  when  I  pretended  to  crave 
a  blessing,  and  return  thanks  ?  Acts  xxvii.  35.  39.  Mat. 
XV.  36.      Col.  iii.  17.  23. 

For  your  Calling. 

Q.  1.  Have  I  been  diligent  in  the  duties  of  my  calling? 
Eccles.  ix.      1  Cor.  vii.  17.  20  24. 

2  Have  I  defrauded  no  man  ?  1  Thes.  iv.  6.  1  Cor. 
vi.  3. 

3.  Have  I  dropped  never  a  lie  in  my  shop  or  trade  ? 
Prov.  xxi.  6.      Ephes.  iv.  25. 

4.  Did  not  I  rashly  make,  or  falsely  break  some  pro- 
mise ?     Psalm  cvi.  33.     Jos.  ix.  14.  &c.     Psalm  xv.  4. 

AN    ADDITION    OF    SOME    BRIEF    DIRECTIONS    FOR    THE 
MORNING. 

Direct.  1.  If  through  necessity  or  carelessness  you 
have  omitted  the  reading  and  weighing  of  these  questions 
in  the  evening,  be  sure  to  do  it  now. 

2.  Ask  yourself,  "  What  sin  have  I  committed,  what 
duty  have  I  omitted  ?  Against  which  of  these  rules  have  I 
offended,  in  the  day  foregoing  ?"  And  renew  your  repent- 
ance, and  double  your  watch. 


66  THE    LIFE    AND     DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VI.) 

3.  Examine  whether  God  were  last  in  your  thoughts 
when  you  went  to  sleep,  and  first  when  you  avvake. 

4.  Inquire  whether  yonr  care  of  your  heart  and  ways  doth 
increase  upon  your  constant  using  of  this  course  for  self- 
examination,  or  whether  it  doth  abate,  and  you  grosv  more 
remiss. 

5.  Impose  a  task  of  some  good  meditations  upon  your- 
selves  while  you  are  making  ready  either  to  go  over  these 
rules  in  your  thoughts,  or  the  heads  of  some  sermon  you 
heard  last,  or  the  holy  meditations  for  this  purpose  in  the 
Practice  of  Piety,  or  Scuder's  Daily  Walk. 

6-   Set  your  ends  right  for  all  the  day. 

7.  Set  your  watch,  especially  against  those  sins  and 
temptations  that  yow  are  like  to  be  most  incident  to  that 
day. 


CHAP.  YI. 

A  full  Narrative  of  his  Life,  (from  his  silencing  till  bis  death,)  by  bis 
Widow,  Mrs.  Theodusia  Alleine,  in  her  own  -words  ;  wherein 
is  notably  set  forili  with  what  patience  he  ran  tlie  race  that  was  set 
befoie  liiui,  and  fulfilled  the  Ministry  that  lie  had  received  of  the 
Lord. 

Before  the  Jlct  for  Uniformity  came  forth,  my  husband 
was  very  earnest  day  and  night  with  God,  that  his  way 
might  be  plain  to  him,  that  he  might  not  desist  irom  such 
advantages  of  saving  souls,  with  any  scruple  upon  his  spirit 
in  which,  when  he  saw  these  clauses  of  assent  and  consent, 
and  renouncing  the  covenant,  he  was  fully  satisfied  :  But 
he  seemed  so  moderate  before,  that  both  myself  and  others 
thought  he  would  have  conformed  :  He  often  saying.  He 
would  not  leave  his  work  for  small  and  dubious  matters  : 
But  seeing  his  way  so  plain  for  quitting  the  public  station 
that  he  held,  and  being  thoroughly  |)ersuaded  of  this,  that 
the  ejection  of  the  ministers  out  of  their  j)laces.  did  not  dis- 
oblige them  from  preaching  the  gospel,  he  presently  took  up 
a  firm  resolution  to  go  on  with  his  work  in  private,  both  of 
preaching  and  visiting  from  house  to  house,  till  he  should 
be  carried  to  prison  or  banishment,  which  he  counted  upon 
the  Lord  assisting  him.  And  this  resolution,  without  de- 
lay, he  prosecuted  ;   for  the  Thursday  after  he  appointed  a 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  67 

solemn  day  of  humiliation^  when  he  preached  to  as  many 
as  would  adventure  themselves  with  him  at  our  own  house. 
But  it  being  then  a  strange  thing  to  the  most  professors  to 
sutler,  they  seemed  much  aifrighted  at  the  threatenings  of 
adversaries  ;  so  that  there  was  not  such  an  appearance  at 
such  opportunities  as  my  husband  expected  ;  whereupon  he 
made  it  his  work  to  converse  much  with  those  he  perceived 
to  be  most  timorous,  and  to  satisfy  the  scruples  that  were 
on  many  amongst  us  ;  so  that  the  Lord  was  pleased  in  a 
short  time  to  give  him  such  success  that  his  own  people 
waxed  bold  for  the  Lord  and  his  gospel :  And  multudes 
flocked  into  the  meeting,  at  whatsoever  season  they  were, 
either  by  day  or  night  ;  which  was  a  great  encouragement 
to  my  husband,  that  he  went  on  with  much  vigour  and  af- 
fection in  his  work,  both  of  preaching,  and  visiting,  and 
catechising,  from  house  to  house. 

He  went  also  frequently  into  the  villages  and  places 
about  the  towns  where  their  ministers  were  gone,  as  most 
of  them  did  fly,  or  at  the  least  desist  for  a  considerable  time 
after  Bartholomew-day.  Wherever  he  w^ent,  the  Lord  was 
pleased  to  give  him  great  success  ;  many  converted,  and 
the  generality  of  those  animated  to  cleave  to  the  Lord  and 
his  ways. 

But  by  this  the  justice's  rage  was  much  heightened 
against  him,  and  he  was  often  threatened  and  sougl:^t  for  ; 
but  by  the  power  of  God,  whose  work  he  was  delighted  in, 
was  preserved  much  longer  out  of  their  hands  than  he  ex- 
pected. For  he  would  often  say,  ''  If  it  pleased  the  Lord 
to  grant  him  three  months'  liberty  before  he  went  to  prison, 
he  should  account  himself  favoured  by  him,  and  should  with 
more  cheerfulness  go.  when  he  had  done  some  work."  At 
which  time  we  sold  off  all  our  goods,  preparing  for  a  gaol 
or  banishment,  where  he  was  desirous  I  should  attend  him, 
as  1  was  willing  to  do,  it  always  having  been  more  grievous 
to  me  to  think  of  being  absent  from  him,  than  to  sufler  with 
him. 

He  also  resolved,  when  they  would  suffer  him  no  longer 
to  stay  in  England,  he  would  go  to  China,  or  some  remote 
part  of  the  world,  and  publish  the  gospel  there. 

It  pleased  the  Lord  to  indulge  him,  that  he  went  on  in 
his  work  from  Bartholomew-day  till  May  the  26th  after. 
Though  oiten  threatened,  yet  he  was  never  interrupted, 
though  the  people  of  both  town  and  country  were  grown  so 


6S  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VI.) 

resokite,  that  they  came  in  great  multitudes,  at  whatever 
season  the  meeting  was  appointed,  very  seldom  missing 
twice  a  Sabbath,  and  olten  in  the  week.  I  know  that  he 
hath  preached  fourteen  times  in  eij:ht  days,  and  ten  often, 
and  six  or  seven  ordinarily  in  these  months,  at  home  and 
abroad,  besides  his  liequent  converse  with  souls.  He  then 
laying  aside  all  other  studies  which  he  formerly  so  much 
delighted  in,  because  he  accounted  his  time  would  be  short. 
And  the  Lord  (as  he  often  told  me)  made  his  work  in  his 
ministry  far  more  easy  to  him,  by  the  supplies  of  his  Spirit 
both  in  gilts  and  grace,  as  did  evidently  appear,  both  in  his 
doctrine  and  life ;  he  appearing  to  be  more  spiritual,  and 
heavenly,  and  atiectionate  than  before,  to  all  that  heard  him, 
or  conversed  with  him. 

He  was  upon  a  Saturday  in  the  evening,  about  six 
o'clock,  seized  on  by  an  officer  in  our  town,  who  would 
rather  have  been  otherwise  employed,  as  he  hath  often  said, 
but  that  he  was  forced  to  a  speedy  execution  of  the  warrant  by 
a  justice's  clerk,  who  was  sent  on  purpose  to  see  it  exe- 
cuted, because  he  feared  that  none  of  the  town  would  have 
done  it. 

The  warrant  was  in  the  name  of  three  justices,  to  summon 
him  to  appear  forthwith  at  one  of  their  houses,  which  was 
about  two  miles  from  the  town,  but  he  desired  liberty  to  stay 
and  sup  with  his  family  first,  supposing  his  entertainment 
there  would  be  such  as  would  require  some  refreshment :  This 
would  not  be  granted,  till  one  of  the  chief  of  the  tow^n  was 
bound  for  his  speedy  appearance.  His  supper  being  prepared, 
he  sat  down,  eating  very  heartily,  and  was  very  cheerful,  but 
full  of  holy  and  gracious  expressions,  suitable  to  his  and  our 
present  state.  After  supper,  having  prayed  with  us.  he,  with 
the  officer  and  two  or  three  friends  accompanying  him,  repair- 
ed to  the  justice's  house,  where  they  lay  to  his  charge  that  he 
had  broken  the  ^ct  of  Uniformity  by  his  preaching  ;  which 
he  denied,  saying,  '•  That  he  had  preached  neither  in  any 
church,  nor  chapel,  nor  place  of  public  worship  since  the 
twenty-fourth  of  August;  and  what  he  did  was  in  his  own 
family  with  those  others  that  came  there  to  hear  him." 

Here  behold  how  many  ministers  have  these  eight  or 
nine  years  been  silenced  in  England,  Scotland,  and  Ireland, 
whose  holy  skill  and  conscience,  fidelity,  and  zeal,  is  such 
as  would  have  justly  advanced  most  of  ^he  ancient  Fathers 
of  the  church  to  far  greater  renown,  had  they  been  but  pos- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  69 

sessed  with  the  like  !  Of  whom  indeed  the  world  is  not 
worthy.  O  !  how  many  of  them  am  I  constrained  to  re- 
member with  joy  for  their  great  worth,  and  sorrow  for  their 
silence  !  But  though  learning,  holiness,  wonderful  ministe- 
rial skill,  and  industry,  moderation,  peaceableness,  true  Ca- 
tholicism, absolute  dedication  unto  Christ,  zeal,  patience  and 
perseverance,  did  not  all  seem  sufficient  to  procure  his  min- 
isterial or  corporal  liberty  in  his  latter  years  ;  yet  they  did 
much  more  for  him  than  that,  in  qualifying  him  for  the 
crown  which  he  now  enjoyeth  ;  and  to  hear,  "Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servant,  enter  into  thy  Master's  joy." 

But  alas.  Lord  !  what  is  the  terrible  future  evil,  from 
which  thou  takest  such  men  away  1  And  why  is  this  world 
so  much  forsaken,  as  if  it  were  not  a  prayer  of  hope  which 
thou  hast  taught  us,  Thy  will  be  done  on  earth,  as  it  is  in 
Heaven  ? 

He  hath  printed  a  small  book,  called,  Jl  call  to  ArchippuSy 
to  persuade  the  silent  Non- Conformists  to  pity  souls,  and  to 
be  faithful  in  the  work  to  which  they  are  devoted  and  con- 
secrated, how  dear  soever  it  may  cost  them. 

He  held  that  separation  in  a  church  was  necessary  many 
times,  from  the  known  corruptions  of  it ;  but  allowed  not 
separation  from  a  church  where  active  compliance  with  some 
sinful  evil  was  not  made  the  condition  of  communion.  And 
in  this  way  he  frequently  declared  himself  in  health  and 
sickness,  and  most  expressly  in  my  hearing  on  his  bed  of 
languishing,  when  he  was  drawing  near  his  long  home. 
And  that  the  people  were  not  dislodged  from  attending  upon 
their  ministry,  who  were  ejected  out  of  their  places,  as  his 
book  entitled  Jl  call  to  Archippns  sheweth  ;  after  that  black 
and  mournful  Sabbath  in  which  he  took  his  farewell  with 
much  affection  of  his  beloved  people. 

When  he  was  taken  up  for  prison,  he  was  not  only  con- 
tented, but  joyful  to  sufler  for  the  name  of  Jesus  and  his 
gospel,  which  was  so  dear  to  him  ;  intimating,  that  God  had 
given  him  much  more  time  than  he  expected  or  asked  of 
Him,  and  that  he  accounted  it  cause  of  rejoicing,  and  his 
honour,  that  he  was  one  of  the  first  called  forth  to  suffer  for 
His  name. 

Althouoh  he  was  very  suddenly  surprised,  yet  none  could 
discern  him  to  be  in  the  least  moved.  He  pitied  the  condi- 
tion of  his  enemies,  requesting  for  them,  as  the  martyr  Ste- 
phen did  for  those  that  stoned  him.  That  God  icotdd  not  lay 

7 


70  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

this  sin  of  theirs  to  their  charge.  The  greatest  harm  that  he 
did  wish  to  any  of  them,  was,  That  they  might  thoroughly  he 
converted  and  sanctijied,  and  tliat  their  sotds  might  be  saved 
in  the  day  of  the  Lord  Jesvs. 

He  was  very  urgent  with  those  that  were  unconverted, 
to  look  with  more  care  after  their  salvation,  now  they  were 
removed  from  them  that  longed  for  it,  and  had  watched  for 
their  souls  ;  using  this  as  an  argument  often,  "  That  now  they 
were  fallen  into  the  hands  of  such,  many  of  which,  if  not 
most  of  them,  had  neither  skill  nor  will  to  save  souls."  And 
setting  home  upon  them  with  most  tender  affections,  "What 
miserable  creatures  they  were  while  unregenerate  ;  telling 
them  how  his  heart  did  yearn  for  them,  and  his  bowels 
turned  within  him  for  them  ;  how  he  did  pray  and  weep  for 
them,  while  they  were  asleep,  and  how  willingly  he  had 
suffered  a  year's  imprisonment  :  Nay,  how  readily  he  could 
shed  his  blood  to  procure  their  salvation."  His  counsels  and 
directions  were  many,  and  suited  to  the  several  states  of 
those  he  thus  conversed  with,  both  as  to  their  degree  and  place, 
and  their  sins  and  wants,  and  would  be  too  long  to  recite, 
though  I  can  remember  many  of  them. 

To  his  fellow-prisoners  he  said,  "The  eyes  of  God  and 
Angels  are  upon  you,  and  the  eyes  of  men  are  upon  you, 
now  you  will  be  critically  observed.  Every  one  will  be 
looking  that  you  should  be  more  holy  than  others,  that  are 
called  forth  to  this  his  glorious  dignity,  to  be  the  witnesses  of 
Christ  Jesus,  with  the  loss  of  your  liberties." 

He  was  eminently  free  from  harsh  (.'ensuring  and  judging 
of  others,  and  was  ready  to  embrace  all  in  heart,  arms,  and 
communion,  civil  and  religious,  any  that  professed  saving 
faith  in  Jesus  Christ,  and  did  not  overthrow  that  profession 
by  some  fundamental  error  in  doctrine  or  wickedness  of  life 
and  conversation. 

And  yet  they  accused  him  of  being  at  a  riotous  assembty^ 
though  there  were  no  threats  nor  dangerous  words  ;  no  staves, 
nor  weapons,  no  fear  so  much  as  pretended  to  be  struck  into 
any  man,  nor  any  other  business  met  about  than  preaching 
and  prayer.  Here  he  was  much  abused,  receiving  many 
scorns  and  scoffs  from  the  justices  and  their  associates,  who 
were  met  to  hear  his  examination  :  also  from  the  ladies  and 
other  gentlemen,  who  called  him  often,  "  rogue  ;"  and  told 
him,  "  He  deserved  to  be  hanged  ;  and  if  he  were  not,  they 
would  be  hanged  for  him  ;"  with  many  such  like  scurrilous 


THE    REV.  JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  71 

passages,  which  my  husband  received  with  much  patience  ; 
and  seeming,  as  they  apprehended  by  his  countenance,  to 
slight  their  threatenings,  they  were  much  enraged  at  him  : 
they  urged  him  much  to  accuse  himself,  which  they  seeing 
they  could  not  bring  him  to,  and  having  no  evidence,  as  ap- 
peared after,  yet  did  make  his  mittimus  tor  to  go  to  the  gaol 
on  Monday  morning,  after  they  had  detained  him  till  twelve 
at  night,  abusing  him  beyond  what  I  do  now  distinctly  re- 
member, or  were  fit  to  express. 

As  soon  as  he  returned,  it  being  so  late,  about  two  o'clock, 
he  lay  down  on  the  bed  in  his  clothes,  where  he  had  not  slept 
above  Uvo  or  three  hours  at  the  most,  but  he  was  up,  spend- 
ing his  time  in  converse  with  God,  till  about  eight  o'clock  ; 
by  which  hour,  several  of  his  friends  were  come  to  visit  him  ; 
but  he  was  so  watched,  and  the  officer  had  such  a  charge, 
that  he  was  not  suffered  to  preach  all  that  Sabbath,  but  spent 
the  da}^  in  discoursing  with  the  various  companies  that  came 
flocking  from  the  town  and  villages  to  visit  him  ;  praying 
often  with  them,  as  he  could  be  permitted.  He  was  exceed- 
ing cheerful  in  his  spirit,  full  of  admirations  of  the  mercies  of 
God  ;  and  encouraging  all  that  came,  to  be  bold  and  venture 
for  the  gospel  and  their  souls,  notwithtsanding  what  was 
come  upon  him  for  their  sakes.  For,  as  he  told  them,  "  He 
was  not  at  all  moved  at,  nor  did  in  the  least  repent  of, 
any  thing  he  had  done,  but  accounted  himself  happy,  and 
under  that  promise  Christ  makes  to  his,  in  the  5th  of  Mat- 
thew, That  he  should  be  doubly  and  trebly  blessed,  now  he 
was  to  suffer  for  his  sake  ;"  and  was  very  earnest  with  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  that  came  to  see  him,  "that  they 
would  not  in  the  least  desist  when  he  was  gone,  that  there 
might  not  be  one  sermon  the  less  in  Taunton  ;"  and  with 
the  people  to  attend  the  ministry  with  greater  ardency,  dil. 
igency,  and  courage,  than  before  ;  assuring  them  <'  How 
sweet  and  cou)fortable  it  was  to  him  to  consider  what  he  had 
done  for  God  in  the  months  past,  and  that  he  was  going  to 
prison  full  of  joy,  being  confident  that  all  these  things  would 
turn  to  the  furtherance  of  the  gospel  and  the  glory  of  God." 

But  he  not  being  satisfied  to  go  away,  and  not  leave  some 
exhortations  with  his  people,  he  appointed  them  to  meet  him 
about  one  or  two  o'clock  in  the  night,  to  which  they  shewed 
their  readiness,  though  at  so  unseasonable  a  time  :  there 
was  of  young  and  old,  many  hundreds  ;  he  preached  and 
prayed  with  them  about  three  hours. 


72  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VI.) 

And  so  with  many  yearnings  of  his  bowels  towards  them, 
and  theirs  towards  him,  they  took  their  larewell  of  each 
other  ;  a  more  affectionate  parting  could  not  well  be. 

About  nine  o'clock,  he,  with  two  or  three  friends  that 
were  willing  to  accompany  him,  set  out  for  Ilchester.  The 
streets  were  lined  on  both  sides  with  people,  and  many  fol- 
lowed him  a-loot  some  miles  out  of  the  town,  with  such 
lamentations  (that  he  told  me  after)  did  so  affect  him,  that 
he  could  scarce  bear  them  ;  but  the  Lord  so  strengthened 
him,  that  he  passed  through  them  all  with  great  courage  and 
joy,  labouring,  both  by  his  cheerful  countenance  and  expres- 
sions, to  encourage  them. 

He  carried  his  miitinms  himself,  and  had  no  officer  with 
him  ;  but  when  he  came  there,  he  found  the  gaoler  absent, 
and  took  that  opportunity  to  preach  before  he  went  into  the 
prison  ;  which  was  accounted  by  his  adversaries  a  great  ad- 
dition to  his  former  crime.  As  soon  as  the  gaoler  came,  he 
delivered  his  mitiimus,  and  was  clapped  up  in  the  Bridewell 
chamber,  which  was  over  the  common  gaol.  When  he 
came  to  the  prison,  he  found  there  Mr.  John  Norman,  late 
minister  of  Bridgwater,  who  for  the  like  cause  was  appre- 
hended and  committed  a  few  days  before  him  :  a  man  who, 
for  his  singular  abilities  in  preaching,  his  fervent  zeal,  and 
holy  boldness  in  the  cause  of  Christ,  his  constancy  to  his 
principles  in  the  most  wavering  and  shaking  times,  joined 
with  an  exemplary  carriage  and  conversation,  was  deservedly 
had  in  great  repute  among  the  people  of  God  in  these 
Western  parts  ;  and  indeed  there  were  very  few  that  knew 
him,  either  among  the  sober  gentry  or  commonalty,  but,  for 
his  eminent  parts  and  spotless  life,  had  great  respects  for 
him.  There  were  also  five  more  ministers,  with  fifty  Quak- 
ers, which  had  all  their  lodgings  in  the  same  room,  only 
parted  with  a  mat,  which  they  had  done  for  a  little  more  re- 
tirement. It  was  not  long  after  before  Mr.  Coven,  and  Mr. 
Powel,  with  eight  more,  were  brought  into  the  same  place, 
being  taken  at  meetings  ;  which  made  their  rooms  very 
straight,  and  it  was  so  nigh  to  the  upper  part  of  the  prison, 
that  they  could  touch  the  tiles  as  they  lay  in  their  beds  ; 
which  made  it  very  irksome,  the  sun  lying  so  hot  on  it  all 
the  day,  and  there  being  so  many  of  them,  and  so  much  re- 
sort continually  of  t>iends,  they  had  very  little  air,  till  they 
were  forced  to  take  down  the  glass  and  some  of  the  tiles,  to 
let  in  some  refreshment.     But  here  they  were  confined   to 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  73 

lie  and  eat  their  meals,  and  had  no  place  bat  a  small  gar- 
den, joined  to  the  place  where  all  the  common  prisoners 
were  ;  which  was  no  retirement  for  them,  they  having 
there,  and  in  their  chamber,  the  constant  noise  ot"  those 
wretches,  except  when  they  slept ;  who  lay  just  under  them, 
their  chains  rattling,  their  tongues  often  blaspheming,  or 
else  roaring  and  singing  by  night  as  well  as  in  die  day, 
and  if  they  went  into  the  courts  of  the  prison,  there  was  the 
sight  of  their  clothes  hanging  full  of  vermin,  and  themselves 
in  their  rags  and  chains  :  but  that  which  was  most  grievous 
to  them,  they  had  no  place  to  retire  to  God  in,  neither  alone, 
nor  together.  They  were  also  much  molested  by  the  Qua- 
kers, who  would  frequently  disturb  them  by  their  cavils,  in 
the  times  of  their  preaching,  praying,  and  singing  ;  and 
would  come  and  work  in  their  callings  just  by  them, 
while  they  were  in  duties,  which  was  no  small  disturbance 
to  them  ;  And  the  want  of  the  air  was  more  to  my  husband, 
than  to  most  of  them,  because  he  always  accustomed  him- 
self, both  in  Oxford,  and  after,  to  spend  his  most  secret 
hours  abroad  in  bye-places,  in  the  fields  or  woods. 

As  soon  as  he  came  into  the  prison  he  preached  and 
prayed  :  that  he  called  the  consecration  of  it.  After  he  had 
spent  a  day  or  two  in  the  prison,  being  willing  to  have  me 
either  in  the  town  or  there,  to  attend  him  and  to  keep  com- 
pany with  his  friends,  who  came  frequently  to  visit  him, 
he  then  began  to  fit  up  his  lodging  ;  having  prevailed  with 
the  keeper  for  one  corner,  which  was  more  private  than  the 
rest,  to  set  his  bed  in,  about  which  he  made  a  little  parti- 
tion, by  some  curtains,  that  so  he  might  have  some  con- 
veniency  for  retirement.  This  was  much  comfort  to  him, 
and  after  a  few  weeks,  but  got  leave  of  the  keeper  to  go  out 
on  mornings  and  evenings  a  mile  or  more,  which  he  did 
constantly,  unless  the  weather  or  his  keeper's  fury  did  bin-* 
der  him. 

Their  diet  was  very  good  and  sufficient,  and  sometimes 
abundant,  by  their  friends'  kindness.  Here  they  preached 
once  a  day  constantly,  sometimes  twice,  and  many  came 
daily  to  hear  them,  eight  or  ten  miles  round  aliout  the  coun- 
try ;  and  multitudes  came  to  visit  them,  it  being  a  strange 
sight  to  see  ministers  laid  in  such  a  place.  Their  friends 
were  exceedingly  kind  to  them,  endeavouring  by  their  fre- 
quent visits,  and  provisions  for  diet,  and  supplies  of  money, 
to  make  their  prison  sweet  to  them. 


74  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VI.) 

But  my  husband's  labours  were  much  increased  by  this  ; 
spending  all  the  day  in  converse,  he  vvas  forced  to  take 
much  of"  the  night  for  his  studies  and  secret  converse  with 
God. 

Thus  he  with  my  brother  Norman  and  his  company, 
with  their  fellow  prisoners,  continued  in  that  place  lor  four 
months,  being  tossed  from  Sessions  to  Assizes.  On  the 
14th  of  July  following,  he  was  brought  to  the  sessions  held 
at  Taunton,  and  was  there  indicted  for  preaching  on  May 
the  17th  ;  but  the  evidence  against  him  was  so  slender, 
that  the  Grand  Jury  could  not  find  the  bill,  so  that  he  was 
not  brought  to  his  answer  there  at  all :  And  his  friends 
hoped  he  should  have  been  dismissed,  it  being  the  constant 
practice  of  the  court,  that  if  a  prisoner  be  indicted  and  no 
bill  found,  he  is  freed  by  proclamation.  But,  however,  my 
husband  was  sent  to  prison  again  until  the  assizes ;  and  to 
his  friends  that  earnestly  expected  his  enlargement,  he  said, 
"  Let  us  bless  God  that  his  will  is  done,  and  not  the  will  of 
such  worms  as  we." 

August  the  24th,  he  was  again  indicted  at  the  assizes,  and 
though  the  evidence  was  the  very  same  that,  at  the  sessions, 
was  by  the  Grand  Jury  judged  insufficient,  yet  now  at  the 
assizes  the  bill  was  by  them  found  against  him.  So  was 
he  had  to  the  bar,  and  his  indictment  read,  which  was  to 
this  purpose  :  "  That  he,  upon  the  17th  day  of  May,  1663, 
with  twenty  others  to  the  jurors  unknown,  did  riotously, 
routously,  and  seditiously  assemble  themselves  together, 
contrary  to  the  peace  of  our  Sovereign  Lord  the  King,  and 
to  the  great  terror  of  his  subjects,  and  to  the  evil  example  of 
others."  Unto  which,  his  answer  was,  "  That  as  to 
preaching  and  praying,  which  was  the  truth  of  the  case,  of 
these  things  he  was  guilty,  and  did  own  them  as  his  duty  ;  but 
as  for  riotous,  rontons,  and  seditious  assemblies,  he  did  abhor 
them  with  his  heart,  and  of  these  he  was  not  guilty."  At 
last  he  was  found  guilty  by  the  Petty  Jury  ;  and  was  sen- 
tenced by  the  judge  to  pay  a  hundred  marks,  and  to  lie  in 
prison  till  payment  should  be  made.  Sentence  being  pro- 
nounced against  him,  he  only  made  this  brief  reply  :  "  That 
he  was  glad  that  it  had  appeared  before  his  country,  that 
whatsoever  he  was  charged  with,  he  was  guilty  of  nothing 
but  doing  his  duty;  and  that  all  did  appear  by  the  evidence, 
was  only  that  he  had  sung  a  psalm,  and  instructed  his  fa- 
milyj  others  being  there,  and  both  in  his  own  house  :    And 


THE    REV.    JOSEI'H    ALLEINE.  75 

that  if  nothing  that  had  been  urged  would  satisfy,  he  should, 
with  all  ch  erfuliiess  and  thankfulness,  accept  whatsoever 
sentence  his  lordship  should  pronounce  upon  him  for  so 
good  and  righteous  a  cause."  Thus  from  the  assizes  he 
was  sent  to  prison  again,  where  he  continued  a  whole  year, 
wanting  but  three  days. 

But  the  winter  coming  on,  they  were  willing  to  try  if  they 
could  have  the  favour  to  be  removed  to  the  Ward,  this  place 
being  like  to  be  as  cold  in  the  winter  as  it  had  been  hot  in 
summer,  (there  being  no  chimney  in  the  whole  chamber.) 
which  with  some  dithculty  they  obtained  ;  and  then  had 
more  comfortable  accommodation  in  all  respects. 

Here  they  had  very  great  meetings,  week-days,  and  Sab- 
bath-days, and  many  days  of  humiliation  and  thanksgiving. 
The  Lord's  day  many  hundreds  came.  And  though  my 
husband  and  brother  Norman  had  many  threats  from  the 
justices  and  judges,  "  That  they  should  be  sent  beyond  sea, 
or  carried  to  some  island,  where  they  should  be  kept  close 
prisoners  ;"  yet  the  Lord  preserved  them  by  his  power,  and 
thus  ordered  it,  that  their  imprisonment  was  a  great  further- 
ance to  the  gospel,  and  brought  much  glory  to  Him,  both  by 
their  preaching  and  conversing  with  souls  :  In  which  they 
had  great  success  through  his  blessing  on  their  labours.  My 
husband  having  here  more  freedom,  made  a  little  book,  en- 
titled A  call  to  Archippns,  to  stir  his  Non-conforming  bre- 
thren to  be  diligent  at  their  word,  whatsoever  dangers  and 
sufferings  they  might  meet  withal :  And  because  he  could 
not  go  to  his  flock,  he  had  prepared  for  them,  The  Synopsis 
of  the  Covenant,  which  was  after  placed  into  one  of  my 
father's  books. 

And  for  the  help  of  the  governors  of  families,  in  their 
weekly  catechising  those  nnder  their  charge,  he  explained  all 
the  Assembly's  Shorter  Catechism  ;  to  which  he  annexed  an 
affectionate  letter,  with  rules  for  their  daily  examination  ; 
which  were  printed  and  dispersed  into  all  their  houses  by 
his  order,  while  he  was  a  prisoner.  He  also  writ  many  holy, 
and  gracious,  and  affectionate  letters  to  all  his  relations,  and 
many  other  friends,  to  many  churches  of  Christ  in  other 
parts  and  places,  both  far  and  near. 

His  sufferings  that  he  underweut  for  the  sake  of  the  gos- 
pel,  could  neither  remit  his  zeal,  nor  abath  his  activity  for 
God  ;  but  he  would  gladly  embrace  all  opportunities  of  do- 
ing Him   service.     The  minister   who   was  appointed  to 


76  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

preach  at  certain  times  to  the  felons  in  the  prison,  being  by- 
sick  ness  disabled  lor  that  work,  he  freely  performed  that 
office  among  them,  as  long  as  he  was  permitted  ;  earnestly 
exhorting  them  by  repentance  towards  God  and  faith  to- 
wards  onr  Lord  Jesns  Christ,  to  secure  the  eternal  welfare 
of  their  souls  ;  freely  bestowing  upon  ihem,  according  to  his 
ability,  for  their  relief;  that  by  doing  good  to  their  bodies, 
he  might  win  upon  them  to  receive  good  for  their  souls. 
He  was  very  forward  to  promote  the  education  of  youth,  in 
the  town  in  Ilchester  and  country  adjacent:  freely  bestow- 
ing catechisms  on  those  that  were  of  poor  families,  to  in- 
struct them  in  the  principles  of  religion,  stirring  up  the  elder 
to  teach,  and  encouraging  the  younger  to  learn.  He  was  a 
serious  and  faithful  monitor  to  his  fellow-sufferers,  if  he  es- 
pied any  thing  in  any  of  them,  that  did  not  become  the  gos- 
pel, for  which  they  suffered. 

H  re,  as  elsewhere,  he  was  a  careful  redeemer  of  his 
time  ;  his  constant  practice  was,  early  to  begin  the  day  with 
God,  rising  about  four  of  the  clock,  and  spending  a  consider- 
able part  of  the  morning  in  meditation  and  prayer,  and  then 
falling  close  to  his  study,  in  some  corner  or  other  of  the  pri- 
son,  where  he  could  be  private.  At  times,  he  would  spend 
near  the  whole  night  in  these  exercise,  not  putting  off  his 
clothes  at  all,  only  taking  the  repose  of  an  hour  or  two  in 
his  nightgown  upon  the  bed,  and  so  up  again.  "When  any 
came  to  visit  him,  he  did  not  entertain  them  with  needless 
impertinent  discourse,  but  that  which  was  serious,  profitable, 
and  edifying  ;  in  which  he  was  careful  to  apply  himself  to 
them,  according  to  their  several  capacities,  whether  elder  or 
younger  ;  exhorting  them  to  those  gracious  practices,  which, 
by  reason  of  their  age,  or  temper,  calling,  or  condition,  he 
apprehended  they  might  be  most  defective  in,  and  exhorting 
them  from  those  evils  they  might  be  most  prone  and  liable 
unto.  He  rejoiced  that  he  was  accounted  worthy  to  suffer 
for  the  work  of  Christ ;  and  he  would  lal)our  to  encourage 
the  timorous  and  faint-hearted,  by  his  own  and  others'  ex- 
perience of  the  mercy  and  goodness  of  God  in  prison,  which 
was  far  beyond  what  they  could  have  thought  or  expected. 
He  was  a  careful  observer  of  that  rule  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
(Mat.  v.  44.)  "Love  your  enemies,  bless  them  that  curse 
you,  do  good  to  them  that  hate  you,  and  pray  for  them  that 
despitefully  use  you  and  persecute  you."     It  was  none  of  his 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  77 

practice  to  exclaim  against  those  that  were  the  greatest  in- 
struments of  his  sLifrerings. 

In  all  his  imprisonment,  at  presant,  I  could  not  discern 
his  he  ilth  to  be  the  least  impaired,  notwithstanding  his  abun- 
dant lahours  ;  but  cannot  but  suspect,  as  the  physicians 
judged,  that  he  had  laid  the  foundation  for  that  weakness 
which  sundenly  after  surprised  him,  and  was  his  death; 

At  his  return  from  the  prison,  he  was  far  more  earnest  in 
his  work  than  before  ;  yet  willing  to  preserve  his  liberty 
among  his  people,  who  had  no  minister  that  had  the  over- 
sight of  them,  though  some  carne  and  preached  while  he  was 
absent.  And  the  people  flocked  so  greatly  after  him,  that 
he  judged  it  best  to  divide  the  company  into  four,  and  re- 
solved to  preach  four  times  each  Sabbath  to  them  :  But 
finding  sensibly  that  would  be  too  hard  for  him,  his  strength 
much  decaying,  he  did  forbear  that  course,  and  preached 
only  twice  a  Sabbath  as  formerly,  and  often  on  week-days 
at  home  and  in  the  country  ;  and  spent  what  time  he  had 
else  from  his  studying,  in  private  converse  with  God,  as 
formerly  he  had  done  :  Pressing  all  that  feared  the  Lord, 
especially  those  that  were  of  a  more  weak  and  timorous 
spirit,  to  a  life  of  courage  and  activity  for  God,  and  to  be 
much  in  helping  one  another,  by  their  converses,  now  minis- 
ters were  withdrawn  ;  and  to  be  much  in  the  work  of  praises 
and  thanksgiving  to  God,  rejoicing  and  delighting  them- 
selves in  him;  and  with  cheerfulness  and  readiness,  denying 
themselves  for  him,  and  resigning  themselves,  and  all  they 
did  enjoy,  to  him  ;  letting  the  world  know,  they  could  live 
comfortably  on  a  God  alone,  on  his  attributes  and  promises, 
though  they  should  have  nothing  else  left. 

But  it  pleased  the  All -wise  God  to  take  him  off  from  the 
eager  pursuit  of  his  work,  and  designs  for  him,  by  visiting 
him  in  the  latter  end  of  August  with  much  weakness,  so 
that  he  had  not  above  three  months'  time  after  he  came  out 
of  prison  :  For  he,  going  about  sixteen  miles,  at  the  request 
of  a  society,  whose  pastor  was  not  able  to  come  among  them 
to  preach  and  to  administer  a  more  solemn  ordi.iance,  was 
so  disabled,  that  he  was  not  able  to  perform  the  great  and 
chief  work,  though  he  did  adventure  to  preach,  but  w  ith 
much  injury  to  himself,  because  he  would  not  wholly  dis- 
appoint the  people,  who  came  so  far  as  many  of  them  did  ; 
"VVith  much  difficulty,  after  three  or  four  days,  I  made  way 
to  get  him  home  to  Taunton,  where  we  then  sojourned,  and 


78  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

presently  had  the  best  advice  the  most  able  physicians,  both 
in  and  around  the  town,  could  give  ;  who  advised  together, 
and  all  judged  it  to  be  from  his  abundant  labours,  and  the 
preaching  too  soon  after  his  meals;  as  he  did,  when  he 
preached  four  times  a  Sabbath,  whereby  he  had  so  abated 
the  natural  heat  of  his  stomach,  that  no  food  would  digest, 
nor  oftentimes  keep  within  him.  He  would  assure  us,  he 
was  in  no  pain,  but  a  constant  discomposure  in  his  stomach, 
and  a  failing  of  his  appetite,  that  he  could  not  for  many 
weeks  bear  the  scent  of  any  flesh- meat,  nor  retain  any 
liquors  or  broths,  so  that  he  consumed  so  fast,  that  his  lite 
seemed  to  draw  to  an  end.  But  the  Lord  did  so  bless  the 
means,  t  lat  he  recovered  out  of  his  distemper,  after  two 
months'  time,  but  so  lost  the  use  of  his  arms  from  October 
till  April,  that  he  could  not  put  off  nor  on  his  clothes,  nor 
often  write  either  his  notes  or  any  letters,  but  as  I  wrote  for 
him,  as  he  dictated  to  me.  He  was  by  all  physicians,  and  by 
my  earnest  beseechings,  often  dissuaded  from  preaching,  but 
would  not  be  prevailed  with,  but  did  go  on  once  and  some- 
times twice  a  Sabbath,  and  in  his  private  visiting  all  that 
winter  ;  in  the  spring,  the  use  of  his  arms  returned,  tor  which 
he  was  exceeding  thankful  to  the  Lord,  and  we  had  great 
hopes  of  his  recovering ;  and  making  use  of  further  remedies, 
he  was  able  to  go  on  with  more  freedom  in  his  work  ;  and 
the  summer  following,  by  the  use  of  mineral-waters  in  Wilt- 
shire, near  the  Devises,  where  he  was  born,  his  strength 
was  much  increased,  he  finding  great  and  sensible  good  by 
them. 

But  he  venturing  too  much  on  what  he  had  obtained,  his 
weakness  returned  frequently  upon  him  the  next  winter, 
and  more  in  the  spring  following,  being  seized  as  he  was  at 
the  first.  But  it  continued  not  long  at  a  time,  so  that  he 
did  preach  often  to  his  utm.ost  strength  (nay,  I  may  say, 
much  beyond  the  strength  he  had)  both  at  home  and  abroad  ; 
going  into  some  remote,  parts  of  the  country,  where  had 
been  no  meetings  kept  all  that  time  the  ministers  had  been 
out,  w^hich  was  two  years.  And  there  he  engaged  several 
of  his  brethren  to  go  and  take  their  turns,  which  they  did 
with  great  success. 

He  had  also  agreed  with  two  of  his  brethren  to  go  into 
Wales  with  them  to  spread  the  Gospel  there  ;  but  was  pre- 
vented in  that,  by  his  weakness  increasing  upon  him.  It 
was  much  that  he  did,  but  much  more  that  he  desired  to  do. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH     ALLEINE.  79 

He  was  in  this  time  much  threatened,  and  warrants  of- 
ten out  for  him  ;  and  he  was  so  far  from  being  disfuibed 
at  it,  that  he  rejoiced  ;  that  when  he  could  do  but  little  for 
God,  because  of  his  distempers,  God  would  so  far  honour 
him,  that  he  should  go  and  suffer  for  him  in  a  prison.  He 
would  often  with  cheerfulness  say,  "  They  could  not  do  him 
a  greater  kindness."  But  the  Lord  was  yet  pleased  to  pre- 
serve him  from  their  rage,  seeing  him  not  then  fit  for  the 
inconveniences  of  a  prison. 

The  Five  JSlile  ^5c/  coming  in  force,  he  removed  to  a 
place  called  Wellington,  which  is  reckoned  five  miles  from 
Tauuton,  to  a  dyer's  house,  in  a  very  obscure  place,  where 
he  preached  on  the  Lord's-days,  as  he  was  able.  But  the 
vigilant  eyes  of  his  old  adversaries  were  so  watchful  over 
him,  that  they  soon  found  him  out,  and  resolved  to  take  him 
theuce,  and  had  put  a  warrant  into  the  constable's  hand  to 
apprehend  him,  and  sent  for  our  friend,  and  threatened  to 
send  him  to  gaol  for  entertaining  such  persons  in  his  house. 
So  my  husband  returned  to  the  house  of  Mr.  John  Mallack, 
a  merchant,  who  lived  about  a  mile  from  Taunton,  who  had 
long  Solicited  him  to  take  his  house  for  his  home.  We 
being  in  such  an  unsettled  state,  my  husband  thought  it 
best  to  accept  of  his  courteous  offer.  But  many  of  his 
friends  were  willing  to  enjoy  him  in  the  town,  and  so  ear- 
nest,  that  he  did,  to  satisfy  them,  go  from  one  to  another, 
staying  a  fortnight,  or  three  weeks,  or  a  month  at  each  house  ; 
but  still  took  Mr.  Mallack's  for  his  home.  This  motion  of 
his  friends,  he  told  me,  (though  it  was  troublesome  for  us 
to  be  so  unsettled,)  he  was  willing  to  embrace,  because  he 
knew  not  how  soon  he  might  be  carried  again  from  them 
to  prison,  and  he  should  have  opportunity  to  be  more  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  them,  and  the  state  of  their  souls, 
and  of  their  children  and  servants,  and  how  they  performed 
their  duties  each  to  other  in  their  families. 

He  went  from  no  house  without  serious  counsels,  com- 
forts, or  reproofs,  as  their  conditions  called  for;  dealing 
with  all  that  were  capable,  both  governors  and  others  parti- 
cularly, acquainting  them  faithfully  and  most  afiectionately, 
what  he  had  seen  amiss  in  any  of  them. 

fie  went  from  no  house  that  was  willing  to  part  with  him  ; 
nor  had  he  opportunity  to  answer  the  requests  of  half  that 
invited  us  to  their  houses.  So  that  he  would  often  bless 
God,  and  say  with  holy  Mr.  Dod,  "  That  he  had  a  hundred 


89  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

houses  for  one  that  he  had  parted  with  ;  and  though  he  had 
no  goods,  he  wanted  for  nothing,  his  Father  cared  for  him 
in  every  thing,  that  he  lived  a  far  more  pleasant  life  than 
his  enemies,  who  had  turned  him  out  of  all."  He  was  ex- 
ceedingly taken  with  God's  mercy  to  him,  in  Mr.  Mallack's 
entertaining  him  and  me  so  bountifully  ;  the  house,  and 
gardens,  aud  walks,  being  a  very  great  delight  to  him,  being 
so  pleasant  and  curious  ;  and  all  accommodations  within 
suitable,  so  that  he  would  often  say,  "  that  he  did  as  Dives, 
fare  de'.iciously  every  day  :  But  he  hoped  he  should  im- 
prove it  better  than  he  did,  and  that  God  had  inclined  him 
to  take  care  for  many  poor,  and  for  several  of  his  brethren 
la  the  ministry  ;  and  now  God  did  reward  him,  by  not  suf- 
fering him  to  be  at  the  least  expense  for  himself  or  me." 

He  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  all  providences  of  every 
day,  and  did  usually  reckon  them  up  to  me  before  we  went 
to  sleep,  each  night  after  he  came  into  his  chamber  and  bed 
to  raise  his  own  heart  and  mine,  to  praise  the  Lord,  and  to 
trust  Him,  whom  we  had  such  experience  of  from  time  to 
time. 

The  time  of  the  year  being  come  for  his  going  to  the 
waters,  he  was  desirous  to  set  one  day  apart  for  thanksgiving 
to  God,  for  all  his  mercies  to  him  and  them,  and  so  to  take 
his  leave  of  them. 

Accordingly,  on  the  10th  of  July  1665,  divers  of  his 
brethren  in  the  ministry,  and  many  of  his  friends  of  Taun- 
ton, met  together  to  take  their  leave  of  him  before  his  de- 
parture, at  the  house  of  Mr.  Malhck,  then  living  about  a 
mile  out  of  the  town.  Where,  after  they  had  been  a  while 
together,  came  two  justices,  and  several  other  persons  attend- 
ing them,  brake  open  the  doors  by  force,  (though  they  might 
have  unlatched  them  if  they  had  pleased,)  and  with  swords 
came  in  among  them.  After  much  deriding  and  menacing 
language,  which  I  shall  not  here  relate,  having  taken  their 
names,  committed  them  to  the  custody  of  some  constables, 
whom  they  charged  to  bring  them  forth  the  next  day,  at 
the  Castle  Tavern  in  Taunton,  before  the  justices  of  the 
peace  there.  The  next  day  the  prisoners  appeared,  and 
answered  to  their  names  ;  and  after  two  days'  tedious  at- 
tendance, were  all  convicted  of  a  conventicle,  and  sentenced 
to  pay  three  pounds  a-piece,  or  to  be  committed  to  prison 
threescore  days.  Of  the  person  thus  convicted,  but  few 
either  paid  their  fines,  or  suffered  their  friends  to  do   it  for 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  81 

them.  My  husband,  with  seven  ministers  more,  and  forty 
private  persons,  were  committed  to  the  prison  of  llchester. 
\Vhen  he,  together  with  the  rest  of  his  brethren  and  christian 
friends,  came  to  the  prison,  his  carriage  and  conversation 
there  was  every  way  as  exemplary  as  in  his  former  confine- 
ment. Notwithstanding  his  weakness  of  body,  yet  he  would 
constantly  take  his  turn  with  the  rest  of  the  ministers,  in 
preaching  the  gospel  in  the  prison  ;  which  turns  came  about 
the  oltener,  though  there  were  eight  oi'  them  there  together, 
because  they  had  preaching  and  praying  twice  a-day,  almost 
every  day  they  were  in  prison  ;  besides  other  exercises  of 
religion,  in  which  he  would  take  his  part. 

And  although  he  had  many  of  his  flock  confined  to  the 
prison  with  him,  by  which  means  he  had  the  fairer  opportu- 
nity of  instructing,  and  watching  over  them,  for  their  spi- 
ritual good  :  yet  he  was  not  forgetful  of  the  rest  that  were 
left  behind,  but  would  frequently  visit  them  also  by  his  let- 
ters, full  of  serious  profitable  matter,  from  which  they  might 
reap  no  small  benefit,  while  they  were  debarred  of  his  bodily 
presence.  And  how  greatly  solicitous  he  was  for  those  that 
were  with  him,  (that  they  might  be  the  better  for  their  bonds, 
walking  worthy  of  the  many  and  great  mercies  they  had  en- 
joyed during  their  imprisonment;  that  when  they  came 
home  to  their  houses,  they  might  speak  forth,  and  live  forth 
the  praises  of  God,  carrying  themselves  in  every  respect  as 
becomes  the  gospel,  for  which  they  had  been  sufTerers)  you 
may  clearly  see  by  those  parting  counsels  that  he  gave  them 
that  morning,  that  they  were  delivered,  which  I  shall  recite 
in  his  own  words,  as  they  were  taken  from  his  mouth  in  short 
hand,  by  an  intimate  friend  and  fellow-prisoner,  which  you 
may  take  as  followeth  : 

Mr.  Joseph  Alleine's  Exliortaiion  to  his  Fellow-sufferers,  when  they 
were  to  be  discharged  from  their  Imprisonment. 

Dearly  beloved  brethren,  my  time  is  little,  and  my  strength 
but  small,  yet  I  could  not  consent  that  you  should  pass 
without  receiving  some  parting  counsel  ;  and  what  I  have 
to  say  at  parting,  shall  be  chiefly  to  you  that  are  prisoners, 
and  partly  also  to  you  our  friends,  that  are  here  met  to- 
gether. To  you  that  are  prisoners,  I  shall  speak  something 
by  way  of  exhortation,  and  something  by  way  of  dehorta- 
tion. 


82  THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  (CHAP.  VI.) 

By  way  of  Exhortation. 

First.  Rejoice  with  trembling  in  your  prison-comfortg, 
and  see  that  you  keep  them  in  a  thankful  remembrance. 
Who  can  tell  the  mercies  that  you  have  received  here  ?  My 
time  or  strength  will  not  suffice  me  to  recapitulate  them. 
See  that  you  rejoice  in  God,  but  rejoice  with  trembling.  Do 
not  think  the  account  will  be  little  lor  mercies  so  many  and 
so  great.  Receive  these  choice  mercies  with  a  trembling 
hand,  for  fear  lest  you  should  be  found  guilty  of  misimprov- 
inij  such  precious  benefits,  and  so  wrath  should  be  upon  you 
from  the  Lord.  Remember  Hezekiah's  case  ;  great  mercies 
did  he  receive,  some  praises  he  did  return,  but  not  according 
to  the  benefit  done  unto  him  ;  therefore  was  wrath  upon  him 
from  the  Lord,  and  upon  all  Judah  for  his  sake.  (2  Chron. 
xxxii.  25.)  Therefore  go  away  with  a  holy  fear  upon  your 
hearts,  lest  you  should  forget  the  loving-kindness  of  the 
Lord,  and  should  not  render  to  Him  according  to  what  you 
have  received. 

Oh,  my  brethren  !  stir  up  yourselves  to  render  praises  to 
the  Lord  !  You  are  the  people  that  God  hath  formed  for  his 
praise,  and  sent  hither  for  his  praise  ;  and  you  shall  now  go 
home,  as  so  many  trumpets,  to  sound  forth  the  praises  of 
God,  when  you  come  among  your  friends.  There  is  an  ex- 
pression (Psal.  Ixviii.  IL)  TAe  Lord  gave  the  word,  great 
was  the  company  of  them  that  published  it :  So  let  it  be  said 
of  the  praises  of  God  now.  Great  icas  the  company  of  tliem 
that  published  them.  God  hath  sent  a  whole  troop  of  you 
here  together,  let  all  these  go  home  and  sound  the  praises  of 
God  wherever  you  come  ;  and  this  is  the  way  to  make  his 
praise  glorious  indeed.  Shall  I  tell  you  a  story  that  1  have 
read  \  There  was  a  certain  King  that  had  a  pleasant  grove, 
and  that  he  might  make  it  every  way  delightful  to  him,  he 
caused  some  birds  to  be  caught,  and  to  be  kept  up  in  the 
cages,  till  they  had  learned  sundry  sweet  and  artificial  tunes  ; 
and  vvhen  they  were  perfect  in  their  lessons,  he  let  them 
abroad  out  of  their  cages  into  his  grove,  that  while  he  was 
walking  in  this  grove  he  might  hear  them  singing  those  plea- 
sant tunes,  and  teaching  them  to  other  birds  that  were  of  a 
•wilder  note.  Brethren,  this  King  is  God,  this  grove  is  his 
church,  these  birds  are  yourselves,  this  cage  is  the  prison  ; 
God  hath  sent  you  hither,  that  you  should  learn  the  sweet  and 
pleasant  notes  of  his  praise.     And  I  trust  that  you  have  learn- 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  83 

ed  something  all  this  while  ;  God  forbid  else.  Now  God 
opens  the  cage,  and  lets  you  forth  into  the  grove  of  his  church, 
that  you  may  sing  forth  his  praises,  and  that  others  may  learn 
of  you  too.  Forget  not  therefore  the  songs  of  the  house  of 
your  pilgrimage ;  do  not  return  to  your  wild  notes  again  ; 
keep  the  mercy  of  God  for  ever  in  a  thankful  remembrance, 
and  make  mention  of  them  humbly  as  long  as  you  live  ;  then 
shall  you  answer  the  end  for  which  he  sent  you  hither  :  I 
trust  you  will  not  forget  this  place.  When  Queen  Mary 
died,  she  said,  "  That  if  they  did  rip  her  up,  they  should  find 
Callis  on  her  heart."  1  hope  that  men  shall  find  by  you 
hereafter,  that  the  prison  is  upon  your  heart,  Ilchester  is 
upon  y-our  heart. 

Secondly.  Feed  and  feast  your  faith  upon  prison-experi- 
ences. Do  you  think  that  God  hath  done  this  only  for  your 
present  supply.  Brethren,  God  hath  provided  for  you,  not 
only  for  your  present  supply  in  prison,  but  to  lay  up,  for  all 
your  lives,  that  experience  that  your  faith  must  live  upon, 
till  faith  be  turned  into  vision.  Learn  dependence  upon  God, 
and  confidence  in  God,  by  all  the  experiences  that  you  have 
had  here.  Because  thou  hast  been  my  help,  (saith  the 
Psalmist,)  therefore  umlev  the  shadow  of  thy  wing  will  [re. 
joice.  Are  you  at  a  loss  at  any  time  1  Then  remember  your 
bonds.  We  read  in  scripture  of  a  time  when  there  was  no 
smith  in  all  Israel,  and  the  Israelites  were  fain  to  carry  their 
goads  and  other  instruments,  to  be  sharpened,  down  to  the 
Philistines  :  so  when  your  spirits  are  low,  and  when  your 
faith  is  dull,  carry  them  to  the  prison  to  be  sharpened  and 
quickened.  Oh,  how  hath  the  Lord  confuted  all  our  fears  ! 
Cared  for  all  our  necessities  !  The  faith  of  some  of  you  was 
sorely  put  to  it  for  corporal  necessities.  You  came  hither, 
not  having  any  thing  considerable  to  pay  for  your  charges 
here  ;  but  God  took  care  for  that.  And  you  left  poor  mi- 
serable families  at  home,  and  no  doubt  but  many  troublesome 
thoughts  were  in  your  minds  what  your  families  should  do 
for  bread  ;   but  God  hath  provided  for  them. 

We  that  are  ministers,  left  poor  starvling  flocks,  and  we 
thought  that  the  country  had  been  now  stripped  ;  and  yet 
God  hath  provided  for  them.  Thus  hath  the  Lord  been 
pleased  to  furnish  us  with  arguments  for  our  faith,  against 
we  come  to  the  next  distress  :  though  you  should  be  called 
forth  to  leave  your  flocks  destitute,  you  that  are  my  brethren 
in  the  ministry,  and  others  their  families  destitute,  yet  doubt 


84:  THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  (CHAP.   VI.) 

not  but  God  will  provide ;  remember  your  bonds,  upon  all 
occasions.  Whensoever  you  are  in  distress,  remember  your 
Old  Friend,  remember  your  tried  Friend. 

Thirdly .  Let  divine  mercy  be  as  oil  to  the  flame  of  your 
love  :  O  love  the  Lord  all  ye  his  saints  ?  Brethren,  this  is 
the  language  of  all  God's  dealings  with  you,  they  all  call 
upon  you  to  love  the  Lord  your  God,  with  all  your  hearts, 
with  all  your  souls,  with  all  your  strength.  What  hath  God 
been  doing  ever  since  you  came  to  this  prison  ?  All  that  he 
hath  been  doing  since  you  came  hither,  have  been  to  pour 
oil  into  the  flames  of  your  love,  thereby  to  increase  and 
heighten  them.  God  hath  lost  all  these  mercies  upon  you, 
if  you  do  not  love  Him  better  than  you  did  before.  You 
have  had  supplies  ;  to  what  purpose  is  it,  unless  you  love 
God  the  more  ;  if  they  that  be  in  want,  love  Him  better  than 
you,  it  were  better  you  had  been  in  their  case.  You  have 
had  health  here,  but  if  they  that  be  in  sickness  love  God 
better  than  you,  it  were  better  you  had  been  in  sickness  too : 
See  that  you  love  your  Father,  that  hath  been  so  tender  of 
you.  What  hath  God  been  doing,  but  pouring  out  his  love 
upon  you  ?  How  were  we  mistaken  1  For  my  part,  I  thought 
that  God  took  us  upon  his  knee  to  whip  us  ;  but  he  took  us 
upon  his  knee  to  dandle  us.  We  thought  to  have  felt  the 
strokes  of  his  anger,  but  he  hath  stroked  us,  as  a  Father  his 
children,  with  most  dear  affection.  Who  can  utter  his  lov- 
ing-kindness ]  W'hat,  my  brethren,  shall  we  be  worse  than 
Publicans  ?  The  Publicans  will  love  those  that  love  them. 
Will  not  you  return  love  for  so  much  love  1  Far  be  this  irom 
you,  brethren  ;  you  must  not  only  exceed  the  Publicans,  but 
the  Pharisees  too  ;  therefore,  surely  you  must  love  Him  that 
loveth  you.  This  is  my  business  now  to  bespeak  your  love 
to  God,  to  unite  your  hearts  to  Him  :  Blessed  be  God  for  this 
occasion  !  For  my  part,  I  am  unworthy  of  it.  Now  if  I 
can  get  your  hearts  nearer  to  God  than  they  were,  then  happy 
am  I,  and  blessed  are  you.  Fain  I  would,  that  all  these  ex- 
periences should  knit  our  hearts  to  God  more,  and  endear 
us  for  ever  to  Him.  What!  So  much  bounty  and  kindness, 
and  no  returns  of  love?  At  least  no  further  returns?  I 
may  plead  in  the  behalf  of  the  Lord  with  you,  as  they  did  for 
the  centurion  :  He  loveth  our  nation,  say  they,  and  hath 
built  us  a  synago^-ne.  So  I  may  say  here.  He  hath  loved 
you,  andpoured  out  his  bounty  upon  you.  How  many  friend- 
ly visits   from  those  that  you   could   but  little  expect  of? 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  85 

Whence  do  you  think  this  came  ?  It  is  God  that  hath  the 
key  of  all  these  hearts.  He  secretly  turned  the  cock,  and 
caused  them  to  pour  forth  kindness  upon  you.  There  is  not 
a  motion  of  love  in  the  heart  of  a  friend  towards  you,  but  it 
was  God  that  put  it  in. 

Fourtlily,  Keep  your  manna  in  a  golden  pot,  and  forget 
not  him  that  hath  said  so  often,  Remember  me.  You  have 
had  manna  rained  plentifully  about  you  ;  be  sure  that  some- 
thing  of  it  be  kept.  Do  not  forget  all  the  sermons  that  you 
have  heard  here :  0  that  you  would  labour  to  repeat  them 
over,  to  live  them  over  !  You  have  had  such  a  stock  that 
you  may  live  upon,  and  your  friends  too,  if  you  be  commu- 
nicative, a  great  while  together.  If  any  thing  have  been 
wanting,  time  for  the  digesting  hath  been  wanting.  See 
that  you  well  chew  the  cud  ;  and  see  that  you  especially  re- 
member the  feasts  of  love.  Do  not  you  know  who  hath 
said  to  you  so  often,  Remember  me  ?  How  often  have  you 
heard  that  sweet  word  since  you  came  hither  ?  What !  Do 
you  think  it  is  enough  to  remember  him  for  an  hour?  No, 
but  let  it  be  a  living  and  lasting  remembrance.  Do  not 
you  write  that  name  of  his  in  the  dust,  that  hath  written 
your  names  upon  his  heart.  Your  High  Priest  hath  your 
names  upon  his  heart,  and  therewith  is  entered  into  the 
holy  place,  and  keeps  them  there  for  a  memorial  before  the 
Lord  continually.  O  that  his  remembrance  might  be  writ- 
ten upon  your  hearts,  written  as  with  the  pen  of  a  diamond, 
upon  tables  of  marble  that  might  never  be  worn  out !  That 
as  Aristotle  saith  of  the  curious  fabric  of  Minerva,  "  that  he 
had  so  ordered  the  fabric,  that  his  name  was  written  in  the 
midst,  that  if  any  went  to  take  that  out,  the  whole  fabric 
was  dissolved."  So  the  name  of  Jesus  should  be  written 
upon  the  substance  of  your  souls,  that  they  should  pull  asun- 
der, before  they  should  be  able  to  pull  it  out. 

Fifthly.  Let  the  bonds  of  your  affliction  strengthen  the 
bonds  of  your  affection.  Brethren,  God  hath  sent  us  hither 
to  teach  us,  among  other  things,  the  better  to  love  one  ano- 
ther. Love  is  lovely,  both  in  the  sight  of  God  and  men, 
and  if  by  your  imprisonment  you  have  profited  in  love,  then 
you  have  made  an  acceptable  proficiency.  0  brethren, 
look  within  ;  are  you  not  more  endeared  one  to  another? 
I  bless  the  Lord  for  that  union  and  peace  that  hath  been 
ever  among  you  ;  but  you  must  be  sensible  that  we  conie 
very  far  short  of  that  love  that  we  owe  one  to  another,  we 

8* 


86  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  VI.  ) 

have  not  that  love,  that  endearedness,  that  tenderness,  that 
complacency,  that  compassion  towards  each  other  that 
we  ought  to  have.  Ministers  should  be  more  endeared  one 
to  another,  and  Christians  should  be  more  dear  to  each 
other,  than  they  were  before.  We  have  eaten  and  drunk 
together,  and  lived  in  our  Father's  love  in  one  faujily  to- 
gether ;  we  have  been  joined  together  in  one  common  cause, 
and  all  put  into  one  bottom  :  O  let  the  remembrance  of  a 
prison,  and  of  what  hath  passed  here,  especially  those  unit- 
ing feasts,  engage  you  to  love  one  another. 

Sixthly.  Let  present  indulgence  tit  you  for  future  hard- 
ships, and  do  not  look  that  your  Father  should  be  always 
dandling  you  on  his  knee.  Beloved,  God  hath  used  you 
like  fondlings  now,  rather  than  like  sufferers.  What  shall 
I  say  1  I  am  at  a  loss,  when  I  think  of  the  tender  indulgence, 
and  the  yearnings  of  the  bowels  of  our  Heavenly  Father 
upon  us.  But,  my  brethren,  do  not  look  for  such  prisons 
again. 

Affliction  doth  but  now  play  and  sport  with  you,  rather 
than  bite  you  ;  but  do  you  look  that  affliction  should  here- 
after fasten  its  teeth  on  you  to  purpose  :  And  do  you  look 
that  the  hand  that  hath  now  gently  stroked  you,  may  possibly 
buffet  you,  and  put  your  faith  hard  to  it,  when  you  come  to 
the  next  trial.  This  fondness  of  your  heavenly  Father  is  to 
be  expected  only  while  you  are  young  and  tender  ;  but  after- 
ward you  must  look  to  follow  your  business,  and  to  keep 
your  distance,  and  to  have  rebukes  and  frowns  too  when  you 
need  them.  Bless  God  for  what  you  have  found  here  ;  But 
prepare  you,  this  is  but  the  beginning, — shall  I  say  ike  he- 
ginning  of  sorrow  ?  I  cannot  say  so ;  for  the  Lord  hath 
made  it  a  place  of  rejoicing.  This  is  but  the  entrance  of 
our  affliction  ;  but  you  must  look,  that  when  you  are  trained 
up  to  better  perfection,  God  will  put  your  faith  to  harder  ex- 
ercise. 

Seventhly.  Cast  up  your  accounts  at  your  return,  and  see 
whether  you  have  gone  as  much  forward  in  your  souls  as 
you  have  gone  backward  in  your  estates.  I  cannot  be  in- 
sensible but  some  of  you  are  here  to  very  great  disadvan- 
tage, as  to  your  affairs  in  the  world,  having  left  your  busi- 
ness so  rawly  at  home  in  your  shops,  trades,  and  callings, 
that  it  is  like  to  be  no  little  detriment  to  you  upon  this  ac- 
count. But  happy  are  ye,  if  you  (ind  at  your  return,  that  as 
much  as  your  affairs  are  gone  backward,  and  behindhand, 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  87 

SO  much  your  souls  have  gone  forward.  If  your  souls  go 
forward  in  grace  by  your  sufferings,  blessed  be  God  that  hath 
brought  you  to  such  a  place  as  a  prison  is ! 

Eighthly.  Let  the  snuffers  of  this  prison  make  your  light 
burn  the  brighter,  and  see  that  your  course  and  discourse  be 
the  more  savoury,  serious,  and  spiritual  for  this  present  trial. 
O  Brethren  !  Now  the  voice  of  the  Lord  is  to  you,  as  i^  is  in 
the  prophet  Isaiah  Ix.  1,  Arise,  and  shine.  JS^ow  let  your 
light  shine  before  men,  that  others  may  see  your  good  icorks, 
and  glorify  your  Father  ichich  is  in  heaven.  It  is  said  of 
those  preachers  beyond  sea, — that  have  been  sent  into  Kng- 
land,  and  here  reaped  the  benefit  of  our  English  practical 
divinity, — at  their  return,  they  have  preached  so  much  bet- 
ter than  they  had  wont  to  do,  that  it  hath  been  said  of  them, 
Apparuit  hunc  fuisse  in  Anglici.*  So  do  you  my  brethren  : 
Live  so  much  better  than  you  had  wont,  that  when  men 
shall  see  the  chan^fe  in  yoar  lives,  they  may  say  of  you, 
Jlpparuit  hunc  fuisse  in  Custodid.-f  See  that  your  whole 
course  and  discourse  be  more  spiritual  and  heavenly  than 
ever.  See  that  you  shine  in  your  families  when  you  come 
home  ;  be  you  better  husbands,  better  masters,  better  fa- 
thers, study  to  do  more  than  you  have  done  this  way,  and 
to  approve  yourselves  better  in  your  family-relations  than 
you  did  before ;  that  the  saviour  of  a  prison  may  be  upon 
you  in  all  companies  ;  then  will  you  praise  and  please  the 
Lord. 

JSlnthly,  and  lastly.  See  that  you  walk  accurately,  as 
those  that  have  the  eyes  of  God,  angels,  and  men,  upon  you. 
My  brethren,  you  will  be  looked  upon  now  with  very  curi- 
ous eyes.  God  doth  expect  more  of  you  than  ever  ;  for  he 
hath  done  more  for  you,  and  he  looketh  what  fruit  there 
will  be  of  all  this.  Oh !  may  there  be  a  sensible  change 
upon  your  souls,  by  the  showers  that  have  fallen  in  prison, 
as  there  is  in  the  greenness  of  the  earth,  by  the  showers  that 
have  fallen  lately  abroad. 

By  ivay  of  Dehoviation  also,  I  have  these  four  things  to 
leave  with  you. 

First.  Revile  not  your  persecutors  ;  but  bless  them,  and 
pray  for  them,  as  the  instruments  of  conveying  great  mer- 

*  It  appears  that  this  person  has  been  in  England, 
t  It  appears  that  this  man  has  been  in  prison. 


88  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.  VI.) 

cies  to  you.  Do  not  you  so  far  forget  the  rule  of  Christ,  as 
when  you  come  home,  to  he  setting  your  mouths  to  talk 
against  those  that  have  injured  you.  Remember  the  com- 
mand of  your  Lord,  Bless  them  that  curse  you^  pray  for  them 
that  despiiejully  use  you  and  persecute  you.  Whatsoever 
they  intended,  yet  they  have  been  instruments  of  a  great 
deal  of  mercy  to  us  ;  and  so  we  should  pray  for  them,  and 
bless  (jrod  for  the  good  we  have  received  by  them. 

Secondly.  Let  not  the  humble  acknowledgement  of  God's 
mercy  deaenerate  into  proud,  vain-glorious  boasting,  or  car- 
nal triumph.  I  beseech  you,  see  that  you  go  home  with  a 
great  deal  of  fear  upon  your  spirits  in  this  respect,  lest  pride 
should  get  advantage  of  you,  lest  instead  of  humble  acknow- 
ledging of  God's  mercy,  there  should  be  carnal  boasting. 
Beware  of  this,  I  earnestly  beg  of  you  ;  for  this  will  very 
much  spoil  your  sufferings,  and  be  very  displeasing  in  the 
sight  of  God.  But  let  your  acknowledging  of  his  mercy,  be 
ever  with  humble  self-abasing  thankfulness,  and  be  careful 
that  you  do  not  make  his  mercies  to  be  the  fuel  of  your  pride, 
which  were  to  lose  all  at  once. 

Thirdly.  Be  not  prodigal  of  your  liberty  upon  a  conceit 
that  the  prisons  will  be  easy,  nor  fearful  of  adventuring 
yourselves  in  the  way  of  your  duty.  Alas  !  I  am  afraid  of 
both  these  extremes  :  On  the  one  hand,  lest  some  among 
us,  having  found  a  great  deal  of  mercy  here,  will  now  think 
there  is  no  need  of  any  christian  prudence,  which  is  always 
necessary,  and  is  a  great  duty.  It  is  not  cowardice  to  make 
use  of  the  best  means  to  preserve  our  liberty,  nor  declining 
our  duty.  On  the  other  side,  there  is  fear  lest  some  may  be 
fearful,  and  ready  to  decline  their  duty  ;  because  they  have 
newly  tasted  of  a  prison  for  it.  Far  be  it  from  you  to  dis- 
trust God,  of  whom  you  have  had  so  great  experience  ; 
but  be  sure  you  hold  on  in  your  duty,  whatsoever  it  cost 
you  ! 

Fourthly.  Do  not  load  others  with  censures,  whose  judg- 
ment or  practice  differs  from  yours  ;  but  humbly  bless  God 
that  hath  so  happily  directed  you.  You  know,  all  are  not 
of  the  same  mind  as  to  the  circumstances  of  suffering,  and 
all  have  not  gone  the  same  way.  Far  be  it  from  any  of 
you,  my  brethren,  that  you  should  so  far  forget  yourselves 
as  to  be  unmindful  to  your  brethren  ;  but  bless  God  that 
hath  directed  you  into  a   better  way.     Your  charity  must 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  89 

grow  higher  than  ever  :      God  forbid  that  you  should  in- 
crease iu  censures,  instead  of"  increasing  in  charity? 

Having  spoken  to  my  fellow-prisoners,  I  have  two  words 
to  speak  to  you,  our  friends  and  brethren  with  us. 

First.  Let  our  experience  be  your  encouragement.  O 
love  the  Lord,  ye  our  friends,  love  the  Lord  ;  fear  him  for 
ever,  believe  in  him,  trust  in  him  for  ever,  for  our  sakes  ; 
we  have  tasted  of  the  kindness  of  God. 

You  know  how  good  God  hath  been  to  us  in  spirituals 
and  in  temporals.  Encourage  your  hearts  in  the  Lord  your 
God,  serve  him  the  more  freely  and  gladly  for  our  sakes. 
You  see  we  have  tried,  we  have  tasted  how  good  the  Lord 
is  :  Do  you  trust  him  the  more,  because  we  have  tried  him 
so  much,  and  found  him  a  friend  so  faithful,  so  gracious, 
that  we  are  utterly  unable  to  speak  his  praise.  Go  on  and 
fear  not  in  the  way  of  your  duty  :  Verily  there  is  a  reward 
for  the  righteous.  God  hath  given  us  a  great  reward  al- 
ready, but  this  is  but  the  least ;   we  look  for  a  kinadom. 

Secondlij  and  lastly.  My  desire  is  to  our  friends,  that 
they  will  all  help  us  in  our  praises.  Our  tongues  are  too 
little  to  speak  forth  the  goodness  and  the  grace  of  God  ;  do 
you  help  us  in  our  praises.  Love  the  Lord  the  better,  praise 
him  the  more  ;  and  what  is  wanting  in  us,  let  it  be  made 
good  by  you.  O  that  the  praises  of  God  may  sound  abroad 
in  the  country  by  our  means,  and  for  our  sakes  ! 


He  was  prevented  of  going  to  the  waters,  by  his  last  im- 
prisonment ;  for  want  of  which,  his  distempers  increased 
much  upon  him  all  the  winter  after,  and  the  next  spring 
more  ;  yet  not  so  as  to  take  him  fully  off  from  his  work,  but 
he  preached,  and  kept  many  days,  and  administered  the  sa- 
crament among  them  frequently. 

But  going  up  to  the  waters  in  July  1667,  they  had  a  con- 
trary effect  upon  him  from  what  they  had  at  first :  For  after 
three  days'  taking  them,  he  fell  into  a  fever,  which  seized 
on  his  spirits,  and  decayed  his  strength  exceedingly,  so  that 
he  seemed  very  near  death.  But  the  Lord  then  again  re- 
voked the  sentence  passed  upon  him,  and  enabled  him  in 
six  weeks  to  return  again  to  his  people,  where  he  much  de- 
sired to  be  :  But  finding,  at  his  return,  great  decay  of  his 
strength,  and  a  weakness  in  all  his  limbs,  he  was  willing  to 


90 


THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 


go  to  Dorchester,  to  advise  further  with  Dr.  Lose,  a  very 
worthy  and  reverened  physician,  from  whom  he  had  receiv- 
ed many  medicines,  but  never  conversed  with  him,  nor  had 
seen  him,  which  he  conceived  might  conduce  more  to  his 
full  cure. 

The  doctor  soon  perceiving  my  husband's  weakness,  per- 
suaded  him  to  continue  for  a  fortnight  or  three  weeks  there, 
that  he  might  the  better  advise  him,  and  alter  his  remedies, 
as  he  should  see  occasion  ;  which  motion  was  readily  yield- 
ed unto  by  us. 

But  we  had  not  been  there  above  five  days,  before  the  use 
of  all  his  limbs  were  taken  away  on  a  sudden  ;  one  day  his 
arms  wholly  failing,  the  next  his  legs  ;  so  that  he  could  not 
go,  nor  stand,  nor  move  a  finger,  nor  turn  in  his  bed,  but  as 
myself  and  another  did  turn  him  night  and  day  in  a  sheet: 
All  means  failing,  he  was  given  over  by  physicians  and 
friends,  that  saw  him  lie  some  weeks  in  cold  sweats  night 
and  day,  and  many  times  for  some  hours  together,  half  his 
body  cold,  in  our  apprehension  dying  ;  receiving  nothing 
but  the  best  cordials  that  art  could  invent,  and  almond  milk, 
or  a  little  thin  broth  once  in  three  or  four  days.  Thus  he 
lay  from  September  28th  to  November  16th,  before  he  began 
to  revive,  or  it  could  be  discerned  that  remedies  did  at  all 
prevail  against  his  diseases.  In  all  this  time  he  was  still 
cheerful,  and  when  he  did  speak,  it  was  not  at  all  com^plain- 
ing,  but  always  praising  and  admiring  God  for  his  mercies  ; 
but  his  spirits  were  so  low,  that  he  spake  seldom,  and  very 
softly.  He  still  told  us  he  had  no  pain  at  all  ;  and  when  his 
friends  admired  his  patience  he  would  say,  "  God  had  not 
yet  tried  him  in  anything,  but  laying  him  aside  out  of  his 
work,  and  keeping  him  out  of  heaven  ;  but  through  grace  he 
could  submit  to  his  pleasure,  waiting  for  him:"  It  was  pain 
he  ever  feared,  and  that  he  had  not  yet  felt ;  so  tender  was 
his  Father  of  him  ;  and  he  wanted  strength  (as  he  often  told 
us)  to  speak  more  of  his  love,  and  to  speak  for  God  who  had 
been  and  was  still  so  gracious  to  him.  Being  often  asked 
by  myself  and  others,  <'  How  it  was  with  his  spirit  in  all 
his  weakness,"  he  would  answer.  "  He  had  not  those  rav- 
ishing joys  that  he  expected,  and  that  some  believers  did  par- 
take of;  but  he  had  a  sweet  serenity  of  heart,  and  confidence 
in  God,  grounded  on  the  promises  of  the  gospel,  and  did  be- 
lieve it  would  be  well  with  him  to  all  eternity." 

Ill  all  this  time,  I  never  heard  one  impatient  word  from 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  91 

him  ;  nor  could,  upon  the  strictest  observation,  discern  the 
least  discontent  with  this  state  ;  though  he  was  a  pitilul  ob- 
ject to  all  others  that  beheld  him,  being  so  consumed,  beside 
the  loss  of  the  use  of  his  limbs.  Yet  the  Lord  did  support 
and  quiet  his  spirit,  that  he  lay  as  if  he  had  endured  nothing  ; 
breakiiig  out  often  most  affectionately  in  commending  the 
kindiiess  of  the  Lord  to  him,  saying.  Goodness  and  mercy 
had  followed  him  all  his  days. 

And  indeed  the  loving-kindness  and  care  of  God  was 
singular  to  us  in  that  place,  which  I  cannot  but  mention  to 
his  praise.  We  came  strangers  thither,  and  being  in  our 
inn,  we  found  it  very  uncomfortable;  yet  were  fearful  to 
impose  ourselves  on  any  private  house.  But  necessity  en- 
forcing, we  did  inquire  for  a  chamber,  but  could  not  pro- 
cure one  ;  the  small-pox  being  very  hot  in  most  families, 
and  those  that  had  them  not,  daily  expecting  them,  and  so 
could  not  spare  rooms,  or  else  they  might.  But  the  Lord 
who  saw  our  affliction,  inclined  the  heart  of  a  very  good 
woman,  a  minister's  widow,  one  Mrs.  Bartlet,  to  come  and 
invite  us  to  a  lodging  in  her  house  ;  which  we  readily  and 
thankfully  accepted  of;  where  we  were  so  accommodated, 
as  we  could  not  have  been  any  where  else  in  the  town,  es- 
pecially in  regard  of  the  assistance  I  had  from  four  young 
women  who  lived  under  the  same  roof,  and  so  were  ready, 
night  and  day,  to  help  me,  I  having  no  servant  nor  friend 
near  me  ;  we  being  so  unsettled,  I  kept  none,  but  had  al- 
ways  tended  him  myself  to  that  time.  And  the  ministers 
and  christians  of  that  place  were  very  compassionate  towards 
us,  visiting  and  praying  with  and  for  us  often  :  and  Dr. 
Lose  visited  him  twice  a  day  for  twelve  or  fourteen  weeks, 
except  when  he  was  called  out  of  town,  refusing  any  fees 
tendered  to  him.  The  gentry  in  and  about  the  town,  and 
others,  sending  to  us  whatever  they  imagined  might  be 
pleasing  to  him  ;  furnishing  him  with  all  delicates  that 
might  be  grateful  to  one  so  weak  ;  so  that  he  want- 
ed neither  tbod  nor  physic,  having  not  only  for  necessity, 
but  for  delight ;  and  he  did  much  delight  himself  in 
consideration  of  the  Lord's  kindness  to  him  in  the  love 
he  received,  and  would  often  say,  1  was  a  stranger, 
and  mercy  took  me  in  ;  in  prison,  and  it  came  to  me  ; 
sick  and  weak,  and  it  visited  me.  There  was  also  ten 
young  women,  besides  the  four  in  the  house,  that  took  their 
turns  to  watch  with  him  constantly  ;  for  twelve  weeks'  space 


92  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

I  never  wanted  one  to  help  me.  And  the  Lord  was  pleased 
to  shew  his  power  so  in  strengthening  me,  that  I  was  every 
night  (all  these  weeks  in  the  depth  of  winter)  one  that  helped 
to  turn  him,  never  lying  out  ol"  the  bed  one  night  from  him, 
but  every  time  he  called  or  wanted  any  thing,  was  waking 
to  assist  her  in  the  chamber,  though,  as  some  of  them  have 
said,  they  did  tell,  that  we  did  turn  him  more  than  forty 
times  a  night,  he  seldom  sleeping  at  all  in  the  night,  in  all 
these  weeks.  Though  his  tender  affections  were  snch,  as 
to  have  had  me  sometimes  lain  in  another  room,  yet  mine 
were  such  to  him,  that  I  could  not  bear  it,  the  thoughts  of  it 
being  worse  to  me  than  the  trouble  or  disturbance  he  accounted 
I  had  with  him,  for  I  feared  none  would  do  any  thing  about 
him  with  such  ease  ;  neither  would  he  suffer  any  one  all 
the  day  to  touch  him  but  me,  or  to  give  him  any  thing  that 
he  did  receive ;  by  which  I  discerned  it  was  most  grateful 
to  him,  and  therefore  to  me.  And  I  never  found  any 
want  of  my  rest,  nor  did  I  get  so  much  as  cold  all  that  win- 
ter, though  I  do  not  remember  that  for  fourteen  or  fifteen 
years  before,  I  could  ever  say  I  was  one  month  free  of  a  most 
violent  cough,  which,  if  I  had  been  molested  with  then, 
would  have  been  a  great  addition  to  his  and  my  affliction  ; 
and  he  was  not  a  little  taken  with  the  goodness  of  God  to 
me  in  the  time  of  all  his  sickness,  but  especially  that  win- 
ter  ;  for  he  being  not  able  to  help  himself  in  the  least,  I 
could  not  be  from  him  night  nor  day,  with  any  comfort  to 
him  or  myself. 

In  this  condition  he  kept  his  bed  till  December  the  I8th. 
And  then,  beyond  all  expectation,  though  in  the  depth  of 
winter,  began  to  revive  and  go  out  of  his  bed  ;  but  he  could 
neither  stand  nor  go,  nor  yet  move  a  finger,  having  sense 
in  all  his  limbs,  but  not  the  least  motion  :  As  his  strength 
did  increase,  he  learnt  to  go,  (as  he  would  say)  first  by 
being  led  by  two  of  us,  then  by  one ;  and  when  he  could 
go  one  turn  in  his  chamber,  though  more  weakly,  and  with 
more  fear  than  the  weakest  child  that  ever  I  saw,  he  was 
wonderfully  taken  with  the  Lord's  mercy  to  him.  By  Feb- 
ruary he  was  able,  with  a  litUc  help,  to  walk  in  the  streets  ; 
but  not  to  feed  himself,  nor  to  go  up  or  down  stairs  without 
much  help. 

When  he  was  deprived  of  the  use  of  his  limbs,  looking 
down  on  his  arms,  as  I  held  him  up  by  all  the  strength  I 
had,  he  again  lifted   up  his  eyes  from   his  useless  arms  to 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  93 

heaven,  and  with  a  cheerful  countenance  said  :  The  Lord 
hath  'riveiiy  and  the  Lord  hath  taken,  and  blessed  be  the 
name  of  the  Lord. 

Being  asked  by  a  friend,  how  he  could  be  so  well  con- 
tented to  lie  so  long  under  such  weakness  ?  He  answered, 
"  What !  is  God  my  father,  Jesus  Christ  my  Saviour,  and 
the  Spirit  my  sweet  friend,  my  Comforter,  and  Sanctifier, 
and  Heaven  my  inheritance.  Shall  I  not  be  contented 
without  limbs  arid  health  1  Through  grace  I  am  fully  satis- 
fied with  my  Father's  pleasure  " 

To  another  that  asked  him  the  same,  he  answers,  "I  have 
chosen  God,  and  he  is  become  mine,  and  1  know  with 
whom  I  have  trusted  myself;  which  is  enough.  He  is  an 
unreasonable  wretch  that  cannot  be  content  with  a  God, 
though  he  had  nothing  else  :     My  interest  in  God  is  all  my 

His  friends  (some  of  Taunton)  coming  to  Dorchester  to 
see  him,  he  was  much  revived,  and  would  be  set  up  in  his 
bed,  and  have  all  the  curtains  drawn,  and  desired  them  to 
stand  round  about  the  bed,  and  would  have  me  take  out  his 
hand,  and  hold  it  out  to  them,  that  they  might  shake  him, 
though  he  could  not  them,  as  he  used  formerly  to  do  when 
he  had  been  absent  from  them.  And,  as  he  was  able,  thus 
he  spake  to  them — "  O  how  it  rejoices  my  heart  to  see  your 
faces,  and  to  hear  your  voices,  though  I  cannot  speak  as 
heretofore  to  you  !  Methinks  [  am  now  like  old  Jacob, 
with  all  his  sons  about  him.  Now  you  see  my  weak  estate  ; 
thus  have  I  been  for  many  weeks,  since  I  parted  with 
Taunton,  but  God  hath  been  with  me,  and  I  hope  with  you  ; 
your  prayers  have  been  heard  and  answered  for  me  in  many 
ways ;  the  Lord  return  them  into  your  own  bosoms !  My  friends, 
life  is  mine,  death  is  mine  ;  in  that  covenant  I  was  preach, 
ing  of  to  you,  is  all  my  salvation  and  all  my  desire  ;  al- 
thouoh  my  body  do  not  prosper,  I  hope  through  grace 
my  soul  doth. 

"I  have  lived  a  sweet  life  by  the  promises,  and  I  hope 
through  grace  can  die  by  a  promise.  It  is  the  promises  of 
God  whi^h  are  everlasting,  that  will  stand  by  us  :  No- 
thing but  God  in  them  will  stead  us  in  a  day  of  affliction. 

"  My  dear  friends,  I  feel  the  power  of  those  doctrines  I 
preach  to  you  on  my  heart :  Now  the  doctrines  of  faith,  of 
repentance,  of  self-denial,  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  of  con- 

9 


94  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OP  (cHAP.  VI.) 

tentment  and  the  rest :  O  that  you  would  live  them  over, 
DOW  I  cannot  preach  to  you  ! 

"  It  is  a  shame  tor  a  believer  to  be  cast  down  under  afflic- 
tions, that  hath  so  many  glorious  privileges, — ^justification, 
adoption,  sanctification,  and  eternal  glory.  We  shall  be  as 
the  angels  of  God  in  a  little  while  :  Nay,  to  say  the  truth, 
believers  are,  as  it  were,  little  angels  already,  that  live  in  the 
power  of  faith.  O,  my  friends  !  live  like  believers,  trample 
this  dirty  world  under  your  feet ;  be  not  taken  with  its  com- 
forts, nor  disquieted  with  its  crosses  :  You  will  be  gone  out 
of  it  shortly." 

When  they  came  to  take  their  leaves  of  him,  he  would 
pray  with  them  as  his  weak  state  would  suffer  him  ;  and  in 
the  words  of  Moses  and  of  the  Apostles  blessed  them.  The 
same  he  always  used  after  a  sacrament,  "  '1  he  Lord  bless 
you  and  keep  you,  the  Lord  cause  his  face  to  shine  upon 
you,  and  give  you  peace  !  And  the  God  of  peace,  that 
brought  again  from  the  dead  our  Lord  Jesus,  through  the 
blood  of  the  everlasting  covenant,  make  you  perfect  in  every 
good  work  to  do  his  will,  working  in  you  that  which  is  well- 
pleasing  in  his  sight,  through  Jesus  Christ,  to  whom  be  glory 
for  ever  and  ever.     Amen." 

And  then  spake  thus,  "  Farewell  farewell,  my  dear  friends  ! 
remember  me  to  all  Taunton,  I  beseech  you  and  them  if  I 
never  see  your  faces  more,  go  home  and  live  over  what  I 
have  preached  to  you,  and  the  Lord  provide  tor  you  when  I 
am  gone.  O  1  let  not  all  my  labours  and  sufferings,  let  not 
my  wasted  strength,  my  useless  limbs,  rise  up  in  judgment 
against  you  at  the  great  day  of  the  Lord." 

Another  time,  some  coming  to  visit  him  there,  the  spake 
thus  to  them,  ''  0  !  my  friends,  let  your  whole  conversation 
be  as  becotnes  the  gospel  of  Christ ;  whether  1  am  present 
or  absent,  live  to  what  I  have  spoken  to  you  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  Now  I  cannot  preach  to  you,  let  my  wasted 
strength,  my  useless  linjbs,  be  a  sermon  to  you  :  Behold 
me,  I  cannot  move  a  finger;  all  this  is  come  upon  me  for 
your  sakes,  and  the  gosj)el ;  it  is  for  Christ  and  yon  that  I 
have  thus  spent  out  myself.  I  am  afraid  of  you,  lest  some 
of  you,  after  all  that  1  have  spoken  to  you,  should  be  lost  in 
the  \»  orld.  There  are  many  |)rofessors  who  can  pray  well, 
and  talk  well,  whom  we  shall  iind  at  the  left  hand  of  Christ 
another  day.  You  have  your  trades,  your  estates,  your  re- 
lations ;   be  not  taken  with  these,  but  with  God.      O  live  on 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  95 

him  I  for  the  Lord's  sake  go  home,  and  take  heed  of  the 
world,  worldly  cares,  worldly  comforts,  worldly  friends,  &c." 
saying  thus, 

"  The  Lord  having  given  authority  to  his  ministers  to 
bless  his  people,  accordingly  I  bless  you  in  his  name,"  using 
the  same  words  as  before,  and  so  parted  with  them  ;  with 
many  other  dear  expressions  of  his  love  to  them  and  the 
town. 

And  thus  he  was  used  to  converse  with  all  that  came  to 
visit  him,  as  he  was  able,  looking  always  cheerfully  upon 
them,  and  never  complaining  of  any  affliction  he  was  under, 
except  it  were  to  excite  his  Taunton  friends  to  their  duties, 

Lj  February,  he  being  very  desirous  to  return  among  his 
people,  he  moved  it  to  his  doctor,  who  consented  to  it,  fear- 
ing that  the  air  might  be  too  keen  for  him  in  March,  and 
hoping  that  it  might  much  add  to  his  cure  to  satisfy  his 
mind. 

"  In  a  horse-litter  I  removed  him.  He  was  much  pleased 
at  the  sight  of  the  place  and  his  people,  who  came  flocking 
about  him  ;  and  he  seemed  to  increase  in  strength,  so  that 
he  was  able  to  feed  himself  the  week  after  he  came  home. 
But  I  fearing  the  frequent  visits  of  his  friends  might  be  pre- 
judicial to  him,  persuaded  him  to  remove  to  Mr.  Mallack's 
house,  which  he  was  again  invited  to,  and  most  courteously 
entertained. 

And  thus  he  continued  increasing  in  strength,  till  the  be- 
ginning of  April  ;  and  then  he  began  to  decline  again,  and 
was  taken  after  some  days  with  convulsion  fits,  as  he  sat  in 
his  chamber  one  afternoon,  and  had  three  or  four  more  fits 
that  night.  But  in  the  use  of  means,  through  God's  blessing, 
he  had  no  more  in  three  weeks.  One  evening,  being  in  his 
chamber,  he  desired  me  to  leave  him  a  while  alone  ;  which  I 
was  very  unwilling  to  do,  but  his  importunity  made  me  to 
go  down  from  him.  But  in  less  than  half  a  quarter  of  an 
hour,  he  was  fallen  to  the  ground  in  one  of  his  former  fits, 
and  had  hurt  his  face  ;  and  from  his  nose  came  much  blood, 
which  was  very  clotted  and  corrupt,  which  physicians  seeing, 
did  conclude  (though  it  were  grievous  to  me,  that,  under  such 
weakn>ess,  he  should  have  so  sad  an  accident,)  that  the  fall 
saved  his  life.  For,  had  not  that  blood  come  from  his  head, 
he  had,  so  far  as  they  could  rationally  judge,  died  in  that  fit, 
which  took  away  his  senses  lor  the  present ;  but  he  went  to 
bed,  and  slept  so  well   that   night,  as   he  had  not  in  many 


96  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VI.) 

weeks  before :  so  that  myself  and  friends,  feared  that  he 
had  been  in  an  apoplexy.  But  he  awaked  about  six  in  the 
morning,  much  refreshed,  and  full  of  the  praises  of  God  for 
his  mercies  to  him,  being  very  sensible  how  suddenly  he  was 
surprised  the  evening  before.  After  this,  he  lived  always 
expecting  death,  saying  often  to  me  and  his  friends,  '^  It  is 
but  a  puff,  and  I  am  gone."  And  therefore  would,  every 
night,  after  he  hnd  been  at  prayer,  bid  all  the  family  fare- 
well, telling  them.  He  mi^ht  be  dead  before  the  morning  ; 
and  dropping  some  holy  counsels  to  them,  would  depart  to 
his  chamber.  All  the  while  I  was  undressing  him,  he  would 
be  discoursing  of  spiritual  things,  it  being  all  his  delight ; 
and  when  we  lay  down  to  rest,  his  last  words  were  usually, 
"We  shall  shortly  be  in  another  bed,  therefore  it  is  good  to 
mind  it,  and  provide  for  it  apace  ;  lUrevvell,  my  dear  heart, 
the  Lord  bless  thee  !"  and  so  he  would  go  to  his  rest.  In. 
his  health  and  sickness,  his  first  speeches  in  the  mornings 
would  be,  "Now  we  have  one  day  more  ;  here  is  one  more 
for  God;  now  let  us  live  well  this  day;  work  hard  for  our 
souls  ;  lay  up  much  treasure  in  heaven  this  day,  for  we  have 
but  a  few  to  live." 

After  this,  the  strength  of  his  limbs,  which  were  decayed, 
returned  again,  and  he  was,  beyond  all  expectation,  so  far 
recovered,  that  we  had  no  fears  of  his  relapsing  again.  His 
appetite  and  rest,  and  all  repaired.  But,  about  the  sixth  of 
May,  he  began  again  to  find  weakness  in  his  stomach,  which 
in  a  few  days  so  grew  upon  him,  that  he  lost  his  limbs 
again  ;  and  on  the  12th  of  May,  in  the  morning,  having  lain 
some  days  and  nights  in  cold  sweats,  as  heretotbre  at  Dor- 
chester, he  was  again  seized  with  convulsions,  first  lying 
four  hours  with  his  eyes  fixed  to  heaven,  not  speaking  one 
word,  nor  in  the  least  moving  himself,  myself  and  friends 
weeping  by  him  ;  at  last  he  spake  to  us  with  a  very  audible 
voice,  "  Weep  not  for  me,  my  work  is  done ;"  and  seemed 
to  be  full  of  matter  to  utter  to  us,  but  was  immediately 
seized  with  a  terrible  convulsion,  which  was  sad  to  behold  ; 
it  so  altered  his  countenance,  and  put  him  into  such  sweats, 
that  it  was  strange  to  see  how  the  drops  lay  and  ran  down 
his  face,  and  hands,  and  body.  This  hold  him  two  hours  or 
more,  and  ceased,  but  he  was  left  by  it  without  any  sense  ; 
and  in  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  or  little  more,  fell  into  another, 
in  which  he  rattled,  and  was  cold,  so  that  we  apprehended 
every  breath  would  be  his  last.     The  physician,  who  was 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  97 

then  by  him,  accounted  his  pulse  to  be  gone,  and  that  he 
would  be  dead  in  a  i'ew  minutes.  But  the  Lord  shewed  his 
power  here  once  again  in  raising  him.  So  that  many  that 
came  and  saw  him,  that  heard  the  next  day  he  was  alive, 
would  not  believe  till  they  came  and  saw  him  again.  These 
vitjlent  tits  went  off  about  twelve  o'clock,  and  he  revived  ; 
but  had  no  sense  to  converse  with  us  till  the  next  day,  nor 
did  he  perfectly  recover  them  four  days  after,  and  then 
was  as  before,  and  so  continued  very  weak  till  July,  no 
strength  coming  into  his  hands  or  legs;  for  the  most  part 
confined  to  his  bed,  but  still  cheerful  in  his  spirit,  and  free 
to  discourse  with  any  that  came  to  visit  him,  as  long  as  he 
was  able- 

But  the  Lord  had  yet  more  work  for  him  to  do.  I  seeing 
him  lie  so  hopeless,  as  to  his  life  or  limbs,  and  considering 
the  winter  was  growing  on  apace,  I  proposed  it  to  the  doctors 
to  have  him  to  the  Bath;  some  were  for  it,  others  against 
it;  acquai:  ting  my  husband  with  it,  he  was  much  pleased 
with  it,  and  so  earnest  in  it,  that  I  sent  immediately  to  Bath 
for  a  horse-litter,  and  the  Lord  was  pleased  strangely  to  ap- 
pear in  strengthening  him  for  his  journey ;  so  that  he,  that 
had  not  in  many  weeks  been  out  of  his  bed  and  chamber, 
was  able  in  two  days  to  reach  near  forty  miles.  But  when 
he  came  to  Bath,  the  doctors  there  seemed  to  be  much 
amazed  to  behold  such  an  object,  professing  they  never  saw 
the  like,  much  wondering  how  he  was  come  alive  such  a 
journey,  and  doubted  much  to  put  him  in.  But  he  having 
tried  all  artificial  baths,  and  ointments,  and  plasters  before, 
he  resolved,  against  their  judgment,  to  adventure  himself. 

At  his  first  appearing  in  the  Bath,  being  wasted  to  skin 
and  bone,  some  of  the  ladies  were  affrighted,  as  if  death  had 
been  come  in  among  them,  and  could  not  endure  to  look  to-, 
wards  him. 

The  first  time  he  went  in,  he  was  able  to  stay  but  a  little 
while,  but  was  much  refreshed,  and  had  no  symptom  of  his 
fits,  which  he  feared  the  Bath  might  have  caused  again. 
Through  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  upon  this  means,  without 
any  thing  else,  except  his  drinking  of  goat's  milk,  he  that 
was  not  able  to  go  nor  s'and,  nor  move  a  finger,  could  in 
three  weaks'  time  walk  about  his  chamber  and  feed  himself. 
His  impaired  appetite  was  again  restored  and  his  strength 
so  increased,  that  there  seemed  no  doubt  to  the  physicians  of 
his  full  recovery,  he  having  not  the  least  sign  of  any  inclina- 

9* 


98  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAF.   VI.  ) 

tion  to  his  fits,  from  tlie  twelfth  of  May  till  his  death  drew 
nigh. 

Ill  this  time  of  his  being  in  Bath,  his  soul  was  far  more 
strengthened  with  grace  ;  so  that  myself,  and  all  that  beheld 
him  and  conversed  with  him,  discerned  sensibly  his  growth  ; 
and  he  was  in  the  nights  and  days,  so  frequently  with  God, 
and  often  in  such  ravishments  of  spirit,  from  the  joys  and 
consolations  that  he  received  from  the  Spirit  of  God,  that  it 
was  oftentimes  more  than  he  could  express,  or  his  bodily 
strength  could  bear  ;  so  that  for  my  own  part,  I  had  less 
hopes  of  his  continuance  on  earth  than  ever  before.  Fori 
perceived  plainly,  the  Lord  had  spared  him  but  to  recover 
strength  of  grace,  and  to  make  him  a  more  evident  instance 
of  his  singular  love,  before  he  took  him  hence. 

He  being  now  more  cheerful  than  formerly,  and  more  ex- 
ceecliugly  affectionate  in  his  carriage  to  me  and  to  all  his 
friends,  especially  with  those  that  were  most  heavenly,  the 
Lord  was  pleased  to  order  it  in  his  providence  there  were 
many  such  then  who  came  to  use  the  Bath,  as  Mr.  Fair- 
clough  aad  his  wife,  Mr.  How  of  Torrington,  Mr.  Joseph 
Barnard  and  his  wife,  and  several  of  our  Taunton  friends, 
and  of  Bristol  ministers  and  others,  which  was  a  great  com- 
fort to  us. 

His  parts  seemed  to  be  more  quick  in  his  converses,  what- 
ever he  was  put  upon,  either  by  scholars,  or  those  that  were 
more  inferior.  He  had  many  visiters  there,  both  of  strangers 
and  friends,  who  were  willing  to  see  him  and  discourse  with 
him,  having  heard  what  a  monument  of  mercy  he  was ;  and 
he  would  to  all  of  them,  so  amplify  upon  all  the  passages  of 
God's  dealings  with  him,  as  was  very  pleasant  to  all  that 
heard  him  ;  and  did  affect  many  that  were  strangers  to  God 
and  to  religion,  as  well  as  to  him. 

He  found  much  favour,  even  among  the  worst ;  both  gentry 
and  others, — such  as  vvould  make  a  scoff  at  religion,  or  holy 
discourse  from  others,  vvould  hearken  to  him.  Though  he 
did  often  faithfully  reprove  many  for  their  oaths,  and  excess 
in  drinking,  their  lascivious  carriages,  which  he  observed  in 
the  Bath  ;  and  there  was  none  of  them  but  did  most  thank- 
fully accept  it  from  him,  and  shewed  him  more  respect  after, 
than  they  had  done  before.  In  which  he  observed  much  of 
God's  goodness  to  him,  and  would  often  say  to  me  ;  "  O  ! 
how  good  it  is  to  be  faithful  to  God."     The  vilest  of  these 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  99 

persons,  as  T  was  by  several  informed,  said  of  him,  "  That 
he  never  spake  with  such  a  man  in  his  life." 

His  reproofs  were  managed  with  so  much  respect  to  their 
persons,  and  the  honourable  esteem  he  had  of  their  dii^nity, 
that  they  said,  "  they  could  not  but  accept  his  reproofs, 
though  very  close  and  plain  :"  And  his  way  was,  some- 
time before  he  intended  to  reprove  them,  he  would  often  in 
the  Bath  converse  with  them,  of  thi?igs  that  might  be  faking 
with  them;  and  did  so  engage  their  affections,  that  they 
would  willingly  every  day  converse  with  him  :  He,  being 
furnished  from  his  former  studies /or  any  company^  design- 
ing to  use  it  still  for  holy  ends,  by  such  means  hath  caught 
many  souls. 

While  he  was  in  this  place,  though  he  had  many  diver- 
sions, by  his  using  the  Bath  constantly  every  day,  and  his 
frequent  visits,  besides  his  weakness,  yet  he  kept  his  con- 
stant seasons,  four  times  a  day,  for  his  holy  retirements  ; 
waking  in  the  morning  constantly  at  or  before  five  o'clock, 
and  would  not  be  disturbed  till  about  seven,  when  he  was 
carried  to  the  Bath.  Having  the  curtains  drawn  close,  he 
spent  his  time  in  holy  meditation,  and  prayer,  and  singing; 
and  once  again  before  dinner,  but  then  he  spent  less  time; 
and  about  half  an  hour  before  two  in  the  afternoon,  just  be- 
fore he  went  abroad. 

For  though  he  never  attained  to  so  much  strength  as  to 
be  able  to  walk  abroad  in  the  streets  without  my  leading 
him,  or  some  other,  yet  he  would  be  employed  for  his  Lord 
and  Master.  His  chairmen,  that  used  to  carry  him  to  the 
Bath,  he  appointed  to  fetch  him  about  three  o'clock,  who 
carried  him  to  visit  all  the  schools,  alms  houses,  and  the 
godly  poor,  especially  the  widows,  to  whom  he  would  give 
money,  and  with  whom  he  would  pray  and  converse  con- 
cerning their  spiritual  states,  according  as  their  necessities 
required  ;  engaging  those  that  were  teachers  and  governors, 
to  teach  the  Assembltfs  Catechism,  buying  many  dozens, 
and  giving  them  to  distribute  to  their  scholars  ;  and  many 
other  small  books  which  he  thought  might  be  useful  for 
them  ;  and  then  would  come  and  see,  in  a  week  or  fortnioht, 
what  progress  they  had  made.  He  also  engaged  several  to 
send  their  children  once  a  week  to  him  to  be  catechised  ; 
which  ihey  did  hearken  to  him  in  :  And  we  had  about  sixty 
or  seventy  children  every  Lord's-Day  to  our  lodging,  and 
they  profited  much  by  his  instructions,  till  some  took  such 


100  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH     OF  (CHAF.   VI.) 

offence  at  it,  that  he  was  forced  to  desist,  and  the  school- 
master was  threatciied  to  be  cited  to  Wells  before  the  Bishop, 
and  many  others  aifrighted  from  it. 

lie  also  sent  for  all  the  godly  poor  he  could  find  in  that 
place,  and  entertained  them  at  his  chamber,  and  gave  to 
them  every  one  as  he  was  able,  as  a  thank-offering  to  the 
Lord  for  his  mercy  to  him,  and  desired  them,  with  several 
others,  to  keep  a  day  of  thanksgiving  for  him;  Mr.  Fair- 
cloLigh,  Mr.  How,  and  himself,  performing  the  duties  of  the 
day. 

Thus  thouofh  his  sickness  had  been  long,  and  his  expenses 
great,  he  thought  he  could  never  spend  enough  for  Him  from 
whom  he  had  received  all.  He  constantly  gave  money  or 
apples  to  all  the  children  that  came  to  be  catechised  by  him, 
to  engage  them,  besides  all  he  gave  to  the  teachers  and 
poor,  which  indeed  was  beyond  his  ability,  considering  his 
estate.  But  I  am  persuaded,  he  did  foresee  that  his  time 
would  be  but  short  ;  and  having  made  a  competent  and  com- 
fortable provision  for  me,  he  resolved  to  lay  up  the  rest  in 
heaven  ;  he  did  often  say  to  me,  ''  if  he  lived  never  so  long, 
he  would  never  increase  his  estate,  now  I  was  provided  for  ; 
he  having  no  children,  God's  children  should  have  it." 

But  he  was  yet  again  designing  what  he  might  do  before 
he  took  his  leave  of  the  world  :  And  his  next  work  was,  to 
send  letters  to  all  his  relations  and  intimate  friends,  in 
most  of  which  he  urges  them  to  observe  his  counsels,  for 
they  were  like  to  be  his  last  to  them.  I  always  wrote  for 
him,  for  he  could  not,  by  reason  of  his  weakness,  write  a 
line. 

At  this  time  he  had  a  great  desire  to  go  to  Mr.  Joseph 
Barnard's,  vhich  was  about  five  miles  from  Bath,  there  to 
finish  his  last  W(  rk  for  God  ihat  ever  he  did  on  earth  ;  which 
was  to  promote  the  exercise  of  catechising  in  Somersetshire 
and  Wiltshire.  Mr.  Barnard  having  had  a  great  deliver- 
ance as  well  as  himself,  he  proposed  this  to  him  as  their 
thank-offering  to  God,  which  they  would  jointly  tender  to 
Him.  1  hey  had  engaged  one  another,  to  give  so  much  for 
the  printing  of  six  thousand  of  the  Assemhltfs  Catechism, 
and  among  other  friends,  to  raise  some  nioney,  for  to  send 
to  every  miiister  that  would  engage  in  the  work,  and  to  give 
to  the  children  for  their  encouragement  in  learning  :  This 
work  was  finished  by  Mr.  Barnard,  after  my  husband  was 
gone  to  rest. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  101 

He  finding  himself  to  decline  again,  apprehended  it  was 
for  want  of  using  the  Bath,  and  therefore  desired  to  return, 
and  I  being  fearful  he  should  ride  home,  seeing  some  symp- 
toms of  his  fits,  sent  for  the  horse-litter,  and  ao  carried  him 
again  to  Bath  :  Where  by  the  doctor's  advice,  after  he  had 
taken  some  things  to  prepare  his  body,  he  made  use  of  the 
hot  Bath,  (the  Cross  Bath  being  then  too  cold  ;)  and  so  he 
did  for  four  days,  and  seemed  to  be  refreshed,  and  the 
strength  that  he  had  in  his  limbs  to  recover,  rather  than 
abate;  and  two  of  his  Taunton  friends  coming  to  see  him, 
he  was  cheerful  with  them.  But  on  the  third  of  November 
I  discerned  a  great  change  in  his  countenance,  and  he  found 
a  great  alteration  in  hmself,  but  concealed  it  from  me,  as  I 
heard  after  :  For  some  friends  coming  to  visit  him,  he  de- 
sired them  to  pray  for  him,  for  his  time  was  very  short ; 
but  desired  them  not  to  tell  me  of  it:  All  that  day  he 
would  not  permit  me  to  move  out  of  thechamher  from  him, 
except  once  while  those  friends  were  with  him.  After  we 
had  dined,  he  was,  in  more  than  ordinary  manner,  trans- 
ported with  affection  towards  me;  which  he  expressed,  by 
his  returning  me  thanks  for  all  my  pains  and  care  for  tiim 
and  with  him,  and  putting  up  many  most  atiectionate  requests 
for  me  to  God,  belbre  he  would  suffer  me  to  rise  as  we  sat 
together:  At  night  again,  at  supper,  before  I  could  rise 
from  him,  he  spake  thus  to  me — "  VVell,  now,  my  dear  heart, 
my  companion  in  all  my  tribulations  and  afflictions,  I 
thank  thee  for  all  thy  pains  and  labours  for  me,  at  home  and 
abroad,  in  prison  and  liberty,  in  health  and  sickmess ;" 
reckoning  up  many  of  the  places  we  had  been  in,  in  the 
days  of  our  affliction.  And  with  many  other  most  endear- 
ing and  affectionate  expressions,  he  concluded  with  many 
holy  breathings  to  God  for  me,  that  "  he  would  requite  me, 
and  never  forget  me,  and  fill  me  with  all  manner  of  grace 
and  consolations,  and  that  his  face  might  still  shine  upon 
me,  and  that  I  might  be  supported  and  carried  through  all 
difficulties." 

After  this  he  desired  me  to  seek  for  a  Practice  of  Piety  , 
and  I  procuring  one  for  him,  he  turned  his  chair  from  me, 
that  I  might  not  see.  and  read  the  JMeditations  about  Death 
in  the  latter  end  of  that  book  ;  which  I  discerning,  asked  of 
him,  whether  he  did  apprehend  his  end  was  near.  To  which 
he  replied.  He  knew  not ;  in  a  few  days  I  icould  see  ;  ai  d 
so  fell  into  discourse,  to   divert  me ;  desiring  me   to  read 


102  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  VI.) 

two  chapters  to  him,  as  I  used  to  do  every  night ;  and  so  he 
hasted  to  bed,  not  being  able  to  go  to  prayer  ;  and  with  his 
own  hands  did  very  hastily  undo  his  coat  and  doublet,  which 
he  had  not  done  in  many  months  before.  As  soon  as  he 
was  in  bed  he  told  me,  "  he  felt  some  more  than  ordinary 
stoppage  in  his  head  ;"  and  I  brought  him  something  to 
prevent  the  fits,  which  I  feared.  But  in  a  quarter  of  an 
hour  after  he  fell  into  a  vtry  strong  convulsion  :  Which  I 
being  mueh  affrighted  at,  called  for  help,  and  sent  for  the 
doctors  ;  used  all  former  and  others  means,  but  no  success 
the  Lord  was  pleased  to  give  then  to  any  :  But  they  con- 
tinued for  two  days  and  nights,  not  ceasing  one  hour. 

This  was  most  grievous  to  me,  that  I  saw  him  so  like  to 
depart,  and  that  I  should  hear  him  speak  no  more  to  me: 
fearing  it  would  harden  the  wicked  to  see  him  removed  by 
such  a  stroke.  For  his  fits  were  most  terrible  to  behold  : 
And  I  earnestly  besought  the  Lord,  that  if  it  were  his  plea- 
sure he  wo; Id  so  far  mitigate  the  heavy  stroke  I  saw  was 
coming  upon  me,  by  causing  him  to  utter  something  of  his 
heart  before  he  took  him  from  me  ;  which  he  graciously  an- 
swered me  in  :  for  he,  that  had  not  spoke  from  Tuesday 
night,  did  on  Friday  morning,  about  three  o'clock,  call  for 
me  to  come  to  him,  speaking  very  understandingly  between 
times,  all  that  day.  But  that  night  about  nine  o'clock  he 
brake  out  with  an  audible  voice,  speaking  for  sixteen  hours 
together,  those  and  such  like  words  as  you  formerly  had  ac- 
count of;  and  did  cease  but  a  very  little  space,  now  and 
then,  all  the  afternoon,  till  about  six  on  Saturday  in  the 
evening,  when  he  departed. 

About  three  in  the  afternoon  he  had,  as  we  perceived, 
some  conflict  with  Satan ;  for  he  uttered  these  words  : 
"  Avay,  thou  foul  fiend,  thou  enemy  of  all  mankind,  thou 
subtle  sophister  !  Art  thou  come  now  to  molest  me,  now  I 
am  just  going?  Now  I  am  so  weak,  and  death  upon  me? 
Trouble  me  not,  for  1  am  none  of  thine  !  I  am  the  Load's  ; 
Christ  is  mine,  and  I  am  his  ;  his  by  covenant ;  I  have 
sworn  myself  to  be  the  Lord's,  and  his  I  will  be  ;  There- 
fore begone  !"  These  last  words  he  repeated  often,  which 
I  took  much  notice  of,  "  That  his  covenanting  with  God 
was  the  means  he  used  to  expel  the  devil  and  all  his  temp- 
tations." 

The  time  we  were  in  Bath,  I  had  very  few  hours  alone 
with  him,  by  reason  of  his  constant  using  the  bath,  and  visits 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  103 

of  friends  from  all  parts  thereabouts,  and  sometimes  from 
Taunton  ;  and  when  they  were  gone,  he  would  be  either  re- 
tiring to  God,  or  to  his  rest:  but  what  time  1  had  with  him, 
he  always  spent  in  heavenly  and  profitable  discourse,  speak- 
ing much  of  the  place  he  was  going  to,  and  his  desires  to  be 
gone.  One  morning  as  I  was  dressing  him,  he  looked  up 
to  Heaven  and  smiled,  and  I  urging  hiin  to  know  whv,  he 
answered  me  thus,  '•  Ah,  my  love  !  I  was  thinking  of  my 
marriage  day  ;  it  will  be  shortly.  Oh  what  a  joyful  day 
will  that  be  !     Will  it  not,  thinkest  thou,  my  dear  heart?" 

Another  time  bringing  him  some  broth,  he  said,  "Blessed 
be  the  Lord  for  these  refreshments  in  the  way  home  !  But 
O,  how  sweet  will  heaven  be  !" 

Another  time.  "I  hope  to  be  shortly  where  I  shall  need 
no  meat,  nor  drink,  nor  clothes." 

When  he  looked  on  his  weak  consumed  hands,  he  would 
say,  "These  shall  be  changed  ;  this  vile  body  shall  be  made 
like  to  Christ's  glorious  body.  O  what  a  glorious  day  will 
the  day  of  the  resurrection  be  !  Methinks  I  see  it  by  faith. 
How  will  the  saints  lift  up  their  heads  and  rejoice  ;  and  how 
sadly  will  the  wicked  world  look  then  !  0  come  let  us  make 
haste  ;  our  Lord  will  come  shortly,  let  us  prepare.  If  we 
long  to  be  in  Heaven,  let  us  hasten  with  our  work  ;  for 
when  that  is  done,  away  we  shall  be  fetched.  O  this  vain, 
foolish,  dirty  world  !  I  wonder  how  reasonable  creatures 
can  so  dote  upon  it!  What  is  in  it  worth  looking  after? 
I  care  not  to  be  in  it  longer  than  while  my  Master  hath 
either  doing  or  swffering-work  for  me;  were  that  done, 
farewell  to  earth." 

He  was  much  in  commending  the  love  of  Christ,  and 
from  that  exciting  himself  and  me  to  obedience  to  him,  often 
speaking  of  his  sufferings  and  of  his  glory  ;  of  his  love  letters, 
as  he  called  the  holy  history  of  his  life,  death,  rusurrection, 
ascension,  and  his  second  coming  ;  the  thoughts  of  which 
he  seemed  always  to  be  much  ravi.-hed  with. 

He  would  be  frequently  reckoning  the  choice  tokens 
Christ  had  sent  him,  which  I  remember  he  would  frequent, 
ly  reckon  up,  I.  The  pardon  of  sin.  2.  A  patent  for  Hea- 
ven. 3.  The  gift  of  the  Spirit.  4.  The  robe  of  his  righte- 
ousness. 5.  The  spoils  of  enemies.  6.  The  charter  of  all 
liberties  and  privileges.  7.  The  guard  of  his  angels,  '1  he 
consideration  of  this  last  he  did  frequently  solace  himself 
in,  saying  to  me  often,  when  we  lived  alone  in  the  prison, 


104  THE    LIFE    A^'D    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  VI.) 

and  divers  other  places,  "  Well,  my  dear,  though  we  have 
not  our  attendants  and  servants  as  the  great  ones  and  rich 
of  the  world  have,  we  have  the  blessed  angels  of  God  still  to 
wait  upon  us,  to  minister  to  us,  and  to  watch  over  us  while 
we  are  sleeping  ;  to  be  with  us  when  journeying,  and  still 
to  preserve  us  from  the  rage  of  men  and  devils." 

He  was  exceedingly  affected  with  the  three  last  chapters 
of  Saint  John's  Gospel,  especially  Christ's  parting  words 
and  prayer  for  his  disciples.  But  it  is  time  for  me  to  set  a 
stop  to  my  pen  :  God  did  pour  into  him  ;  and  he  did  pour 
out  so  much,  that  it  was  scarce  possible  to  retain  the  con- 
verses of  one  day,  without  a  constant  register.  His  heart, 
his  lips,  his  life  was  filled  up  with  grace  ;  in  which  he  did 
shine  both  in  health  and  sickness,  prosperity  and  adversity, 
in  prison  and  at  liberty,  in  his  own  house  and  in  the  churches 
of  Christ,  wherever  he  came.  I  never  heard  any  that  con- 
versed with  him,  but  would  acknowledge  it  was  to  their  ad- 
vantage. 

At  my  husband's  first  coming  to  Taunton,  he  was  enter- 
tained by  Mr,  Newton  as  a  sojourner,  and  after  he  was  or- 
dained in  Taunton  in  a  public  association  meeting,  he  ad- 
ministered all  ordinances  jointly  with  him  ;  though  he 
were  but  an  assistant,  Mr.  Newton  w^ould  have  it  so,  who 
dearly  loved  him,  and  highly  esteemed  of  him  ;  and  seeing 
him  restless  in  his  spirit,  and  putting  himself  to  many  te- 
dious journeys  to  visit  me  (as  he  did  once  a  fortnight, 
twenty  five  miles),  he  persuaded  him  to  marry,  contrary  to 
our  purpose  ;  we  resolving  to  have  lived  much  longer  sin- 
gle. The  4th  of  October,  1655,  after  a  year  and  two 
months'  acquaintance,  our  marriage  was  consummated. 

And  we  lived  together  with  Mr.  Newton  near  two  years, 
where  we  were  most  courteously  entertained  ;  and  then, 
hoping  to  be  more  useful  in  our  station,  we  took  a  house, 
and  I  having  been  always  bred  to  work,  undertook  to  teach 
a  school,  and  had  many  tablers  and  scholars,  our  family  be- 
ing seldom  less  than  twenty,  and  many  times  thirty  ;  my 
school  usually  fifty  or  sixty  of  the  town  and  other  places. 
And  the  Lord  was  pleased  to  bless  us  exceedingly  in  our 
endeavours  :  so  that  many  were  converted  in  a  few  years, 
that  were  before  strangers  to  God.  All  our  scholars  called 
him  "  Father  :"  and  indeed  he  had  far  more  care  of  them 
than  most  of  their  natural  parents,  and  was  most  tenderly 
affectionate  to  them,  but  especially  to  their  souls. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  105 

His  course  in  his  family  was  prayer,  and  reading  the 
scriptures,  and  singing  twice  a-day,  except  when  he  cate- 
chised, which  was  constantly  once,  if  not  twice  a  week.  Of 
every  chapter  that  was  read  he  expected  an  account,  and  of 
every  sermon,  either  to  hiuiself  or  me.  He  dealt  with  them 
and  his  servants  frequently,  together  and  apart,  about  their 
spiritual  states  ;  pressing  them  to  all  their  duties,  both  of 
first  and  second  table,  and  calling  them  strictly  to  account, 
Whether  they  did  not  omit  them.  He  also  gave  them  books 
suitable  to  their  capacities  and  condition,  which  they  gave  a 
weekly  account  of  to  him.  or  me  ;  but  too  often  by  public 
work  was  he  diverted,  as  I  am  apt  to  think,  who  knew  uot 
so  well  what  was  to  be  preferred. 

His  Lord's-days  work  was  great,  for  though  he  preached 
but  once  in  his  own  place,  yet  he  was  either  desired  by  some 
of  his  brethren  to  supply  theirs  on  any  exigency,  or  would 
go  where  was  no  minister ;  and  so  was  forced  often  to  leave 
his  family  to  me,  to  my  great  grief  and  loss.  In  his  repeti- 
tions in  public,  as  well  as  catechising,  his  own  family  came 
all  in  their  turns,  to  answer  in  the  congregation,  both  scho- 
lars and  servants. 

When  I  have  pleaded  with  him  for  more  of  his  time  with 
myself  and  family,  he  would  answer  me,  "  His  ministerial 
work  would  not  permit  him  to  be  so  constant  as  he  would  ; 
for  if  he  had  ten  bodies  and  souls,  he  could  employ  them  all 
in  and  about  Taunton."  And  would  say,  "Ah,  my  dear, 
I  know  thy  soul  is  safe  ;  but  how  many  that  are  perishing 
have  I  to  look  after  1   O  that  I  could  do  more  for  them  !" 

He  was  a  holy,  heavenly,  tenderly-affectionate  husband, 
and  I  know  nothing  I  could  complain  of,  but  that  he  v\a3 
so  taken  up,  that  I  could  have  but  very  little  converse  with 
him. 

His  love  was  expressed  to  me,  in  his  great  care  for  me, 
sick  and  well  ;  in  his  provision  for  me;  in  his  delight  in  my 
company  ;  saying  often,  "  He  could  not  bear  to  be  from  me, 
but  when  he  was  with  God,  or  employed  for  him  ;  and  that 
often  it  was  hard  for  him  to  deny  himself  to  be  so  long  ab- 
sent." It  was  irksome  to  him  to  make  a  meal  without  me, 
nor  would  he  manage  any  affair  almost  without  conversing 
with  me,  concealing  nothing  from  me  that  was  fit  for  me  to 
know;  being  far  from  the  temper  of  those  husbands  who 
hide  all  their  concerns  from  their  wives,  which  he  could  not 
endure  to  hear  of,  especially  in  good  men. 

lU 


106  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.    Vl.) 

He  was  a  faithful  reprover  of  any  thing  he  saw  amiss  in 
me,  which  I  took  as  great  evidence  of  his  real  good-will  to 
my  soul  ;  and  if  in  any  thing  he  gave  me  offence,  which  was 
but  seldom,  so  tar  would  he  deny  himself,  as  to  acknowledge 
it,  and  desire  me  to  pass  it  by,  professing  to  me  he  could 
never  rest  till  he  had  done  so  ;  and  the  like  1  was  ready  to 
do  to  him,  as  there  was  far  more  reason ;  by  which  course, 
if  any  ditierence  did  arise,  it  was  soon  over  with  us. 

lie  was  a  very  tender  master  to  his  servants,  every  way 
expressing  it  to  their  souls  and  bodies,  giving  them  that  en- 
couragement in  their  places  they  could  desne  ;  expecting 
from  his  whole  family  that  respect  and  obedience  to  his  com- 
mands,  which  their  rule  required  ;  reproving  them  that  were 
careless  and  negligent  in  observing  them. 

He  was  frequent  in  keeping  solemn  days  of  humiliation, 
especially  against  a  sacrament. 

He  was  a  very  strict  observer  of  the  Sabbath,  the  duties  of 
which  he  did  perform  with  such  joy  and  alacrity  of  spirit,  as 
was  most  pleasant  to  join  with  him,  both  in  public  and  in 
the  family,  when  we  could  enjoy  him  :  And  this  he  did 
much  press  upon  christians,  to  spend  their  Sabbaths  more  in 
praises  and  thanksgivings,  as  days  of  holy  rejoicing  in  our 
Redeemer. 

All  the  time  of  his  health,  he  did  rise  constantly  at  or  be- 
fore four  of  the  clock,  and  on  the  Sabbath  sooner,  if  he  did 
wake.  He  would  be  much  troubled  if  he  heard  any  smiths, 
or  shoemakers,  or  such  tradesmen,  at  work  at  their  trades, 
betbre  he  was  in  his  duties  with  God  ;  saying  to  me  often, 
"  O  how  this  noise  shames  me!  Doth  not  my  Master  deserve 
more  than  theirs  V  From  four  till  eight  he  spent  in  prayer, 
holy  contemplations,  and  singing  of  psalms,  which  he  much 
delighted  in,  and  did  daily  practise  alone,  as  well  as  in  his 
family.  Having  refreshed  himself  about  half  an  hour,  he 
would  call  to  family  duties,  and  after  that  to  his  studies,  till 
eleven  or  twelve  o'clock,  cutting  out  his  work  lor  every  hour 
in  the  day.  Having  refreshed  himself  a  while  after  dinner, 
he  used  to  retire  to  his  study  to  prayer,  and  go  abroad  among 
the  families  he  was  to  visit,  to  whom  he  always  sent  the 
day  before  ;  going  out  about  two  o'clock,  and  seldom  return- 
ing till  seven  in  the  evening,  sometimes  later.  He  would 
often  say,  "  Give  me  a  christian  that  counts  his  time  more 
precious  than  gold."  His  work  in  his  public  ministry  in 
Taunton  being  to  preach  but  once  a  Sabbath  and  catechise, 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  107 

he  devoted  himself  much  to  private  work,  and  also  catechis- 
ed once  a  week  in  public  besides,  and  repeated  the  sermon 
he  preached  on  the  Sabbath  day,  on  Tuesday  in  the  even- 
ing. 

He  found  much  difficulty  in  going  from  house  to  house, 
because  it  had  not  been  practised  a  long  time  by  any  minis- 
ter in  Taunton,  nor  by  any  others  of  his  brethren  ;  and  he 
being  but  a  young  man,  to  be  looked  upon  as  singular,  was 
that  which  called  for  much  self-denial,  which  the  Lord  en- 
abled him  to  exercise.  For  after  he  had  preached  up  in  pub- 
lic the  ministers'  duty  to  their  people,  and  theirs  to  receive 
them  when  they  came  to  them  for  their  spiritual  advantage, 
he  set  speedily  upon  the  work. 

In  this  work,  his  course  was  to  draw  a  catalogue  of  the 
names  of  the  families  in  each  street,  and  so  to  send  a  day  or 
two  before  he  intended  to  visit  them,  that  they  mioht  not 
be  absent,  and  that  he  might  understand  who  was  willing  to 
receive  him.  These  that  sent  slight  excuses,  or  did  obsti- 
nately refuse  his  message,  he  would  notwithstanding  go  to 
them,  and  if  (as  some  would)  they  did  shut  their  doors 
against  him,  he  would  speak  some  few  affectionate  words  to 
them  ;  or  if  he  saw  cause,  denounce  the  threatenings  of  God 
against  them  that  despise  his  ministers,  and  so  departed;  and 
after  would  send  affectionate  letters  to  them,  so  full  of  love 
and  expressions  of  his  great  desires  to  do  their  souls  good, 
as  did  overcome  their  hearts  ;  and  they  did  many  of  them 
afterwards  readily  receive  him  into  their  houses.  Herein 
was  his  compassion  shewed  to  all  sorts,  both  poor  and  rich, 
not  disdaining  to  go  into  such  houses  amongst  the  poor 
as  were  often  very  offensive  to  him  to  sit  in,  he  beiuiif  of  an 
exact  and  curious  temper  :  Yet  would  he,  with  joy  and 
freedom,  deny  himself  for  the  good  of  their  souls,  and  that 
he  might  fulfil  his  ministry  among  those  the  Lord  had  given 
him  the  oversight  of. 

I  perceiving  this  work,  with  what  he  did  otherwise,  to  be 
too  hard  for  him,  fearing  often  he  would  bring  himself  to  dis- 
tempers and  diseases,  as  he  did  soon  after,  besought  him  not 
to  go  so  frequently  :  His  answer  would  be,  "What  have  I 
strength  for,  but  to  spend  for  God  1  "What  is  a  candle  for, 
but  to  be  burnt?"  And  he  would  say,  "  I  was  like  Peter, 
still  crying,  O  spare  thyself!  But  I  must  not  hearken  to 
thee,  no  more  than  my  Master  did  to  him  :"  Though 
his  labours  were  so  abundant,  I  never  knew  him,  for  nine 


108  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  VI.) 

years  together,  under  the  least  distemper  one  quarter  of  an 
hour. 

He  was  exceeding  temperate  in  his  diet ;  though  he  had 
a  very  sharp  appetite  ;  yet  he  did  at  every  meal  deny  him- 
self, being  persuaded  that  it  did  much  conduce  to  his  health. 
His  converse  at  his  table  was  very  profitable,  and  yet  plea- 
sant, never  rising,  either  at  home  or  abroad,  without  drop- 
ping something  of  God,  according  to  the  rule  he  laid  down 
to  others.  He  was  very  much  in  commending  and  admir- 
ing the  mercies  of  God  in  every  meal,  and  still  so  pleased 
with  his  provision  for  him,  that  he  would  often  say,  "  he 
fared  deliciously  every  day,  and  lived  far  better  than  the  great 
ones  of  the  world,  who  had  their  tables  far  better  furnished." 
For  he  enjoyed  God  in  all,  and  saw  his  love  and  bounty  in 
what  he  received  at  every  meal :  So  that  he  would  say,  "  O 
wife  !  I  live  a  voluptuous  life  ;  but,  blessed  be  God,  it  is 
upon  spiritual  dainties,  such  as  the  world  know  not,  and 
taste  not  of." 

He  were  much  in  minding  the  poor,  that  were  in  want  of 
all  things,  often  wondering  that  God  should  make  such  a 
difference  between  him  and  them,  both  for  this  world  and  that 
to  come ;  and  his  charity  was  ever  far  beyond  his  estate  as 
myself  and  many  other  friends  did  conceive,  but  he  would 
not  be  dissuaded,  always  saying,  "  If  he  were  prodigal,  it 
was  for  God,  and  not  for  himself,  nor  sin." 

There  was  but  few,  if  any,  poor  families,  especially  of 
the  godly,  in  Taunton,  but  he  knew  their  necessities,  and 
did  by  himself  or  friends  relieve  them  :  So  that  our  homes 
were  seldom  free  of  such  as  came  to  make  complaints  to  him. 
After  the  times  grew  dead  for  trade,  many  of  our  godly  men 
decaying,  he  would  give  much  beyond  his  ability  to  recover 
them.  He  would  buy  pease  and  flitches  of  bacon,  and  dis- 
tribute twice  a-year,  in  the  cold  and  hard  seasons.  He  kept 
several  children  at  school  at  his  own  cost ;  bought  many 
books  and  catechisms  ;  and  had  many  thousands  of  prayers 
printed,  and  distributed  among  them  !  And  after  his  bre- 
thren were  turned  out,  he  gave  four  pounds  a-year  himself 
to  a  public  stock  for  them,  by  which  he  excited  many  others 
to  do  the  same  and  much  more,  which  else  would  never  have 
done  it  :  And  on  any  other  occasions  as  did  frequently  fall 
in,  he  would  eive  even  to  the  offence  of  his  friends  :  So 
that  many  would  grudge  in  the  town  to  give  him  what  they 
had  agreed  for  ;  because  he  would  give  so  much.     Besides 


THE    REV.  JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  109 

all  this,  the  necessities  of  his  own  father,  and  many  other 
relations,  were  still  calling  upon  him,  and  he  was  open-hand- 
ed to  them  all  :  So  that  it  hath  been  sometimes  even  incred- 
ible to  ourselves  to  consider  how  much  he  did,  out  of  a  lit- 
tle estate,  and  therefore  may  seem  strange  to  others.  More- 
over, when  he  had  received  any  more  than  ordinary  mercy 
at  the  hand  of  God,  his  manner  was  to  set  apart  some  con- 
siderable portion  out  of  his  estate,  and  dedicate  it  to  the 
Lord,  as  a  thank  offering,  to  be  laid  out  for  his  glory  in 
pious  and  charitable  uses. 

When  I  have  begged  him  to  consider  himself  and  me,  he 
would  answer  me,  "  he  was  laying  up,  and  God  would  re- 
pay him  ;  that  by  liberal  things  he  should  stand,  when 
others  might  fall  that  censured  him  ;  that  if  he  sowed  spar- 
ingly, he  should  reap  so  ;  if  bountifully,  he  should  reap 
bountifully." 

And  I  must  confess  I  did  often  see  so  much  of  God  in 
his  dealings  with  us,  according  to  his  promises,  that  I  have 
been  convinced  and  silenced  ;  God  having  often  so  strange- 
ly and  unexpectedly  provided  for  us  :  And  notwithstand- 
ing all  he  had  done,  he  had  at  least  somewhat  to  dispose  of 
to  his  relations  and  to  his  brethren,  besides  comfortable 
provision  for  me. 

Thus  his  whole  life  was  a  continual  sermon,  holding 
forth  evidently  the  doctrines  he  preached  ;  humility,  self-de- 
nial, patience,  meekness,  contentation,  faith,  and  holy  con- 
fidence shining  in  him,  with  most  dear  love  to  God,  and 
his  church,  and  people  ;  and  where  he  longed  and  pant- 
ed to  be  he  is  now  shining,  in  Heaven,  singing  praises  to 
God,  and  to  the  Lamb  ;  which  work  he  much  delighted  in, 
whilst  here  on  earth. 


10* 


110  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VII.) 

CHAP.  VII. 

SOME  NOTES  FROM  ANOTHER, 

Whose  house  he  lodged  in.     (Mr.  F.) 

The  Narrative  of  his  most  constant,  tender,  compassionate  dealing  with 
ignorant  and  bad  people,  in  the  places  vvliere  he  came,  (frequently 
giving  them  money,  with  his  exhortations)  is  mentioned  before. 

As  for  such  as  feared  God  already,  he  was  still  seeking 
their  edification,  and  stirring  them  up  to  a  holy  life  ;  very 
much  pressing  them,  to  intend  God  as  their  end,  and  to  do 
whatever  they  did  for  God.  When  the  week  began,  he 
would  say,  "  Another  week  is  now  before  us,  let  us  spend 
this  week  for  God."  And  in  the  morning  he  would  say, 
*'  Come  now,  let  this  day  he  spent  tor  God.  JNow  let  us 
live  this  one  day  well :  Could  we  resolve  to  be  more  than 
ordinary  circumspect  but  for  one  day  at  a  time,  and  so  on, 
we  might  live  at  extraordinary  rate."  In  the  day  time,  he 
would  (seasonably)  ask  people.  "  How  did  you  set  out  to 
day  1  Hid  you  set  out  for  God  to-day  ?  What  were  your 
morning  thoughts  ?" 

In  the  week  time,  he  would  often  ask  the  servants  for  the 
heads  of  the  sermon,  which  they  had  heard  on  the  Lord's- 
day  before.  As  he  walked  about  the  house,  he  would  make 
some  spiritual  use  of  what  ever  did  occur  ;  and  still  his  lips 
did  drop  like  the  honeycomb  to  all  that  were  about  him,  to 
do  any  offices  for  him  in  his  weakness :  they  were  all  well 
requited.      To  give  a  few  instances  of  his  savoury  words  . 

To  one  that  had  done  well,  "  There  are  two  things,"  said 
he,  "that  we  must  specially  look  to  after  well-doing,  and 
the  special  taste  of  the  love  of  God  :  (1.)  That  we  grow 
not  proud  of  it,  and  so  lose  all  :  (2. )  That  we  grow  not 
secure,  and  so  give  the  tempter  new  advantages." 

Speaking  of  the  vaniiy  of  the  world,  he  said,  "  It  is  as 
good  to  be  without  the  world,  and  to  bear  that  state  as  be- 
seemeth  a  christian,  as  to  enjoy  the  world,  though  it  were 
never  so  well  employed.  If  a  man  hath  riches,  and  1  lyeth 
them  out  for  God  and  for  his  servants,  yet  is  it  as  happy  a 
state,  to  receive  alms   of  another,  so  wc  bear  our  poverty 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  Ill 

aright,  and  are  cheerful  and  thankful  in  our  low  estate. 
Though  yet  it  is  true,  that  riches  may  be  used  to  the  good 
of  others  ;  and  it  is  more  honourable  to  give  than  to  re- 
ceive." 

Another  time  he  was  saying,  "  How  necessary  a  duty  it 
is  for  a  child  of  God  placidly  to  suit  with  all  God's  dispen- 
sations !  And  that  a  christian  must  not  only  quietly  sub- 
mit to  God  in  all  his  dealings,  but  ever  to  be  best  pleased 
with  what  God  doth,  as  knowing  that  he  is  infinitely  wise 
and  good.  And,  0  !  how  unbecoming  a  christian  is  it  to  do 
otherwise!"  To  which  one  answering,  '*  How  short  we 
ordinarily  fall  as  to  that  temper  !"  he  replied,  "  We  have 
much  ground  to  go  yet,  but  so  it  must  be  ;  but  we  shall 
never  be  well  indeed  till  we  come  to  heaven." 

Another  time  said  he,  "  0  what  an  alteration  will  be 
shortly  made  upon  us  !  Now  we  are  the  sons  of  God,  but 
yet  it  doth  not  appear  (to  sight)  what  we  shall  be.  Did  we 
imagine  only  that  we  shall  shine  as  the  sun  in  the  firma- 
ment, it  were  too  low  a  conception  for  our  blessedness  here- 
after." 

Another  morning  as  he  was  dressing,  he  said,  "  0  what 
a  shout  there  will  be,  when  Christ  shall  come  in  his  glory ! 
I  hope  all  here  present  shall  contribute  to  that  shout." 

Another  time,  "  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  delight  in  nothing  in 
this  world,  further  than  I  see  God  in  it." 

Another  time  (in  his  weakness)  saith  he,  "  There  are 
three  things  which  must  be  unlearned,  as  being  mistakes 
among  men.  (1.)  Men  think  that  their  happiness  lieth  in 
having  the  world,  when  it  is  much  more  in  contemning  the 
world.  (2.)  Men  think  that  the  greatest  contentment  lieth 
in  having  their  wills,  when  indeed  it  lieth  in  crossing  mor- 
tifying, and  subcluing  their  wills  to  the  will  of  God.  (3.) 
Men  think  it  their  business  and  benefit  to  seek  themselves, 
when  indeed  it  is  the  denying  of  themselves-" 

Another  time  this  was  his  advice,  "  (1.)  Value  precious 
time,  while  time  doth  last ;  and  not  when  it  is  irrevocably 
lost.  (2.)  Know  the  worth  of  things  to  come,  before  they 
.come,  (or  are  present,)  and  the  worth  of  things  present,  be- 
fore they  are  past.  (3.)  Value  no  mercy  as  it  serveth  to 
content  the  flesh,  but  as  it  is  serviceable  for  God,  and  to 
things  eternal." 

Such  was  his  talk  at  the  table,  where  he  would  be  still 
raised  in  gratitude  tor   God's  bounty,  and   used  to   eat  his 


112  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VII.) 

meat  with  much   cheerfulness  and   comfort,  as  savouring  of 
a  sweeter  oood. 

He  took  one  that  was  watching  with  him  by  the  hand, 
and  said  :  "  I  hope  to  pass  an  eternity  with  thee,  in  the 
praises  of  our  God  :  In  the  mean  time,  let  us  live  a  life  of 
praise  while  we  are  here,  for  it  is  sweet  to  us,  and  delight- 
ful to  God  :  It  is  harmony  in  his  ears,  our  failings  being 
pardoned,  and  we  and  our  praise  accepted  through  Christ." 
Such  discourse  is,  1  hope,  no  great  rarity  with  good  men,  in 
the  cheerfulness  of  prosperity  in  health  ;  but  for  a  man  on 
the  bed  of  tedious  languishing  it  is  more  rare. 

The  night  before  he  went  to  Bath,  where  he  died,  he 
said  to  the  same  person  ;  "  O  how  much  more  hath  God 
done  for  you,  than  for  all  the  world  of  unconverted  persons, 
in  that  he  hath  wrought  his  image  on  your  heart,  and  will 
bring  you  at  last  to  his  celestial  glory.  See  now  that  you 
acknowledge  the  Grace  of  God,  and  give  him  the  praise  of 
it.  For  my  part,  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  am  full  of  his  mercy  ; 
goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me  all  my  days  ;  I  am 
full  and  running  over  :  And  now  I  charge  you  to  walk 
cheerfully,  and  to  follow  me  with  your  praises  w  hilst  I  am 
alive." 

And  for  such  in  the  family  as  lay  under  doubts  of  their 
condition,  he  took  great  care  of  them,  endeavouring  daily  to 
satisfy  their  doubts  and  answer  their  scruples  ;  and  still  would 
be  inquiring,  whether  they  had  yet  any  more  settlement: 
And  if  they  said,  "  They  knew  not  how  to  try  themselves  ;" 
he  would  say,  "  Come,  let  me  help  you  ;"  and  so  would 
take  them  aside,  and  propound  some  three  or  four  sound 
marks,  by  way  of  question,  and  would  ask  them  «'  Whether 
it  were  so  with  them  or  not  V  And  if  any  doubt  appeared 
to  remain  about  it,  he  would  not  easily  leave  them,  till  they 
were  somewhat  satisfied  at  that  time,  and  would  bring  all 
down  to  the  meanest  capacity,  by  putting  his  questions 
several  ways.  And  if  yet  doubts  remained,  he  would  use 
all  the  compassion  and  pitifulness  that  might  be,  and  open 
to  them  the  goodness  of  God's  nature,  the  sufficiency  of 
Christ,  and  his  readiness  to  accept  returning  sinners  ;  and 
after  long  trial  by  fair  means,  would  plainly  labour  to  con- 
vince them  of  the  sin  of  unbelief,  &c.  And  for  any  in  the 
family  that  seemed  to  stick  under  bare  convictions,  he  much 
urged  them  to  go  on,  and  make  a  thorough,  and  sound,  and 
sure  work  of  it. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  113 

In  family  duties,  he  seemed  more  excellent  than  at  other 
times. 

He  was  a  man  of  singular  patience  in  affliction.  Though 
he  lay  under  such  weakness  for  certain  years,  as  rendered 
him  almost  wholly  unable  for  his  public  work,  and  many 
times  not  able  to  move  a  hand  or  finger,  or  hardly  any  other 
part  ;  yet  some  that  have  been  much  with  him,  never  heard 
him  once  complain,  of  one  pain  or  other,  unless  any  asked 
him,  and  then  would  always  make  the  least  of  it.  And 
when  he  lay  many  nights  and  never  took  the  least  rest  by 
sleep,  he  would  never  shew  the  least  impatiency,  nor  so  much 
as  say,  He  had  not  slept,  unless  it  were  asked  him  :  And 
still  would  justify  and  glorify  God,  and  say,  "Shall  I  re- 
ceive good  at  God's  hand,  and  no  evil  'i" 

Jlddiiions. 

Speaking  of  exhortations  and  reproof,  he  said,  "'Tis  the 
safest  course  (where  it  may  be  done)  to  take  the  opportunity, 
and  not  to  suffer  our  backward  hearts  to  cheat  us  of  the  pre- 
sent, on  pretence  of  staying  for  a  titter  time." 

As  advice  for  profitable  discourse,  he  said,  "  It  is  good 
for  such  christians  as  need  it,  to  study  beforehand  what  to 
speak,  that  they  may  always  have  something  in  readiness  to 
bring  forth  for  the  benefit  of  others,  which  will  prevent  im- 
pertinencies." 

Of  prayer  with  others  he  would  say,  "We  have  need  to 
watch  against  confining  our  thouiihts  and  desires  to  the 
cases  of  our  own  souls,  with  the  neglect  of  those  that  join 
with  us;  but  above  all,  with  the  neglect  of  the  miserable 
world,  and  of  the  church  of  Christ  "  For  though  indeed 
hypocrites  use  to  indite  almost  all  their  public  prayers  tVom 
the  supposed  case  of  those  that  are  present,  and  Ineddle  but 
little  with  their  own  sins  and  wants,  unless  in  formality; 
yet  sincere  christians  are  at  first  too  apt  to  dwell  upon  their 
own  cases  almost  alone,  insomuch  that  they  have  need  to  be 
called  outward  ;  and  as  they  grow  in  love,  they  will  grow 
enlarged  in  the  case  of  their  brethren,  but  especially  of  public 
and  universal  consequence. 


114  THE  LIFE  AND  DEATH  OF  (cHAP.  VIII.) 


CHAP.  YIII. 

An  entire  and  exact  delineation  of  this  holy  person,  written  by  one  of 
his  familiar  acquaintance;  presented  in  the  last  place,  as  the  por- 
traiture of  a  complete  gospel-minister. 

FIRST,    HIS    PERSONAL    CHARACTER,    HIS    STATURE,    AND 
COMPLEXION. 

As  to  his  personal  bodily  character,  he  was  of  stature  tall 
and  erect ;  of  complexion  clear  and  lovely,  his  countenance 
being  the  seat  of  cheerfulness,  gravity,  and  love.  It  contra- 
dicted that  usual  saying,  viz.  "  Fronti  nulla  fides  ;*"  for  his 
sprightly  and  serene  countenance  was  the  index  of  an  ac- 
tive and  harmonious  soul.  Aiiorer,  as  it  seldom  beclouded, 
so  it  became  not  that  face  most  incapable  of  sour  impress, 
ions.  It  was  forced  and  so  not  of  long  continuance,  for 
it  never  appeared  but  upon  summons,  when  commanded  to 
interpose  itself;  the  glory  of  God  and  honour  of  Religion, 
being  concerned.  Neither  did  his  reason  and  virtue  sooner 
raise  than  lay  it  when  the  cause  was  ceased.  He  was 
angry,  and  sinned  not,  by  being  angry  chiefly  or  only  for 
sin. 

His  Consiihiiion. 

He  had  not  a  more  hale  complexion  than  healthful  con- 
stitution, hugely  fitted  for  the  employment  in  which  he  was 
so  successful,  viz.  his  ministerial  labours  and  studies.  In- 
somuch that  he  hath  often  been  heard  to  confess,  that  he 
knew  not  what  an  hour's  sickness  or  indisposition  was  for 
thirty  years  and  upward,  even  until  after  his  first  imprison, 
meat,  to  which  (as  it  is  elsewhere  intimated)  it  may  well 
be  thought  that  he  owed  ihe  first  and  fatal  impairs  of  his 
healthful  vigour.  Since  which  first  decay,  it  may  be  af- 
firmed that  contrariwise  for  some  years  together,  till  the 
period  of  his  life,  he  scarce  knew  what  was  an  hour's  health. 
Most  deplorable  it  is,  that  his  great  and  even  excessive  la- 
hours,  and  hard  durance,  should  have  been  prodigal  of  that 
strength  which  might  perchance  have  been  hitherto  em- 
ployed to  the  most  noble  purposes.     But  alas,  the  innocent 

*  The  forehead  (or  countenance)  is  not  to  be  trusted. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  115 

flames  of  divine  love  to  God,  and  zeal  for  his  glory,  and 
the  good  of  souls,  made  all  his  strength  a  whole  burnt  sa- 
orifice,  and  as  well  devoted,  as  if  sacrificed  to  the  flames  of 
martyrdom. 

His  judomeiit. 

And  here  some  injury  would  be  done  to  his  worthy  name, 
should  his  internal  excellences,  which  are  all  of  the  greatest, 
be  wholly  forgotten.  His  judgment  was  as  the  pot  of  man- 
na, wherein  were  found  and  conserved  all  wholesome  soul- 
feediug  doctrines  ;  most  solid  and  acute  it  was.  For 
though  With  the  eye  of  his  body  he  could  not  see  far  off*,  yet 
with  the  eye  of  his  mind  or  understanding,  he  penetrated 
far  into  the  recesses  of  difficult  truths,  and  out  of  mental 
perplexities  he  was  wont  happily  to  extricate  himself  and 
others,  the  toil  of  his  intellect  herein  being  not  so  pleasant 
as  successful.  He  was  all  judgment  in  his  inquiries  after 
truth,  and  all  affection  in  pursuing  and  promoting  that 
which  is  good. 

His  Memory. 

His  memory  was  as  the  tables  of  the  covenant,  God's 
law  being  his  meditation  day  and  night,  and  as  the  sacred 
records  there  kept.  It  was  a  most  faithful  and  refined  trea- 
sury, out  of  which  he  continually  brought  things  new  and 
old  for  the  instruction  and  consolation  of  his  hearers.  So 
tenacious  it  was  that  it  needed  not,  and  wholly  refused,  those 
helps  by  which  it  is  usually  fortified,  and  its  defects  sup- 
plied. It  knew  not  the  slavery  of  an  imposed  task  ;  for 
what  had  once  engaged  his  love,  was  without  delay  or  diffi- 
culty possessed  of  his  mind  or  memory. 

His  Fancy. 

His  fancy  was  as  Aaron's  rod  budding,  ever  producing 
fresh  blossoms  of  refined  divine  wit  and  invention.  It  was 
quick  and  happy,  a  fruitful  storehouse  of  hallowed  and  sub- 
lime notions.  Ever  pregnant,  yet  never  bringing  forth 
any  other  than  the  offsprings  of  judgment  and  discretion. 
Though  it  soared  high,  yet,  like  a  bird  in  a  string,  when  it 
had  gone  to  its  utmost  length,  it  was  checked  by  his  judg- 
ment and  humility,  lest  it  should  ascend  above  its  height. 


116  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VIII.) 

His  JVill  and  Affections. 

His  will  he  had  so  long  lost  in  the  Divine  Will,  as  not  to 
find  it,  or  to  he  troubled  with  its  reluctancies  under  so  long 
and  sad  a  series  of  trials  and  afflictions,  as  those  which  at- 
tended him  constantly  to  his  grave.  His  affections  were 
strong  and  fervent,  and,  to  use  his  words,  *'  They  kept  to 
their  right  objects  and  their  due  bounds,  never  enkindled 
but  with  a  coal  from  the  altar,  and  then  they  soared  to  mar- 
vellous heights."  He  was  indeed,  as  it  were,  all  affection 
in  pursuing  and  promoting  the  grand  interests  of  religion. 
The  zeal  of  God's  house  had  consumed  him,  and  that  not 
blind  nor  wild,  buf  well  attempered  with  lii^ht  ana  heats.  In 
sum,  what  holy  Mr.  Herbert  said  of  himself,  that  may  be 
said  of  him,  "'that  his  active  soul  was  a  keen  kniie  in  a 
thin  sheath,  ever  about  to  cut  through,  and  take  its  flight 
into  the  region  of  souls." 

His  great  Gravity, 

But  to  proceed  to  some  of  his  excellent  properties.  His 
gravity  appeared  to  be  true  and  genuine  (as  not  affected  or 
morose,  not  through  any  inability,  but  unwillingness,  to 
press  his  wit  to  the  service  of  vanity),  resulting  from  a 
mind  ever  in  awe  of  God  ;  because  his  presence  and  de- 
portment struck  such  an  awe  even  on  all  with  whom  he 
conversed,  and  composed  them  to  a  true  decorum.  So  that 
as  Rev.  Mr.  Bolton,  when  walking  in  the  streets,  was  so 
much  clothed  with  majesty,  as  by  the  notice  of  his  coming 
in  these  words.  Here  comes  J\Ir.  Bolton,  as  it  were  to  charm 
them  into  order,  when  vain  or  doing  amiss;  so  this  most 
grave  divine,  wheresoever  he  came,  was  as  a  walking  ghost 
by  his  presence,  conjuring  them  into  a  grave  deportment, 
his  countenance  ever  pointing  at  his  awful  soul.  What  the 
ima'^e  or  statue  of  Sennacherib  did  speak,  that  much  more 
did  this  lively  image  of  the  most  high  God  speak,  viz.  He 
who  lookelk  to  me,  let  him  he  religious. 

This  his  great  gravity  was  not  universally  discerned  by 
all,  but  also  more  particularly  and  especially  acknowledged 
and  loved  by  his  brethren  in  the  ministry  ;  for  there  being 
some  matter  of  moment  depending  among  them,  the  care  of 
which  was  to  be  devolved  on  some  one  man,  a  worthy 
divine,  far  exceeding  him  in  years,  solicited  him  to  take  it 
on  him,  who  modestly  waved  it,  wondering  that  they  should 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  117 

pitch  on  one  so  young  and  inexperienced  as  himself  for  so 
soletnii  an  undertaking.  To  whom  the  tbrenamed  divine 
replied,  that  of  all  the  ministers,  his  brethren,  whereof  many 
for  age  were  his  fathers,  he  knew  none  of  greater  gravity, 
industry,  and  fitness  for  the  management  of  that  affair  than 
himself. 

His  Affability. 

Neither  was  he  so  immured  in  his  study,  as'to  be  a  strang- 
er to,  or  averse  from,  that  generous  and  innocent  freedom 
and  obligingness  of  converse  ;  for  love  and  affability  were 
accurately  attempered  with  his  great  gravity.  He  became 
all  things  to  all  men,  that  he  might  gain  the  more  ;  and  so 
communicative,  innocent,  and  obliging  were  all  his  con- 
verses, that  he  commanded  the  imitation  and  admiration  of 
his  friends,  and  forced  this  acknowledgment  from  his  adver- 
saries, both  profane,  atheistical,  and  sectarian,  viz.  "that  if 
there  were  ever  a  good  man  among  them  (meaning  the  Non- 
conformists), Mr.  AUeine  was  he." 

His  Charity. 

Communicative  I  say  he  was,  both  of  spiritual  and  also 
temporal  good  things  together,  according  to,  even  beyond 
his  power  (as  it  is  elsewhere  abundantly  ascertained),  both 
when  he  heard  the  loud  complaints  of  some,  and  when  he 
listened  to  the  silent  suits  of  others,  viz.  some  modest  and 
indigent  housekeepers,  who  only  spake  of  their  real  needs, 
and  entered  their  suits  at  the  eyes  of  an  inquisitive  almoner, 
more  than  at  his  ears.  Of  the  good  things  pertaining  to 
this  life,  he  was  often  liberal  beyond  his  measure  ;  and  of 
those  pertaining  to  another  life,  often  beyond  his  strength; 
and  by  this  constellation  ofh  is  charity  and  alms-deeds,  he  made 
the  one  more  profitable,  and  the  other  more  acceptable  ;  the 
one  the  greater,  and  the  other  the  happier  and  more  suc- 
cessful ;  and  by  this  conjunction  also,  he  approved  himself 
more  perfect  before  God,  the  more  thoroughly  furnished  to 
every  good  word  and  work. 

His  Utterance. 

His  prolation  or  manner  of  speech  was  free,  eloquent, 
sublime,  and  weighty.      Of  him   it    may  well  be  said,  as  of 

11 


118  THE  LIFE  A^^D  DEATH  OF  (cHAP.  VIII.) 

our  blessed  Saviour,  "  That  all  bare  him  witness,  and  won- 
dered at  the  gracious  words  which  proceeded  out  of  his 
mouth."  It  will  be  hard  to  tell  what  man  ever  spake  with 
more  holy  eloquence,  gravity,  authority,  meekness,  compas- 
sion, and  efficacy  to  souls,  than  he  did  to  those  to  whom  in 
instruction,  exhortation,  consolation,  reprehension,  he  most 
wisely,  frequently,  and  successfully  applied  himself.  Few 
could  resist,  or  stand  before  the  powerful  charms  and  united 
force  of  his  love  and  authority,  being  equally  attracted  by 
the  one  and  awed  by  the  other.  In  him,  if  in  any,  that 
common  observation  did  evidently  fall,  viz. 

Non  bene  conveniunt,  iiec  in  una  sede  locantur, 

Majestas  et  Amor.* 
True  it  is,  that  this  young  Timothy,  with  whom  few  were 
like  minded  in  caring  natural  y  for  the  state  of  his  flock,  was, 
at  his  first  entrance  on  his  ministry,  despised  for  his  youth, 
by  those  who  after  with  shame  confessed  their  error,  and  de- 
plored their  rashness,  resolving  after  for  his  sake  no  more  to 
judge  according  to  appearance,  but  to  honour,  for  their  work 
and  intrinsic  worth,  those  whom  age  hath  not  made  vener- 
able. 

SECONDLY,    HIS    STUDIES    AND    LEARNING. 

As  respects  his  studies,  he  had  a  strong  inclination  to,  and 
delight  in,  the  study  of  the  Natural  and  Ethnick  Theology  ; 
in  which  he  proceeded  to  a  great  acquaintance  with  the  chief 
sects  of  the  philosophers,  especially  the  Academics  and 
Stoics,  of  his  insight  into  whom  he  made  singular  use,  by 
gathering  their  choicest  flowers  to  adorn  Christianity  withal. 
And,  indeed,  scarce  did  he  preach  a  sermon,  wherein  he  did 
not  select  some  excellent  passage  or  other  out  of  these,  where- 
by to  illustrate  and  fortify  his  discourse.  And  how  well 
becoming  a  divine,  and  most  laudable  that  his  inclination 
and  choice  was,  is  most  manifest  to  considering  men  ;  for 
hereby  he  more  confirmed  himself  in  the  christian  religion 
(which  he  had  espoused  with  so  much  judgment  and  zeal), 
by  a  distinct  and  certain  knowledge  of  the  highest  principles 
and  hopes  of  the  Ethnick  religions,  and  by  a  sober  compar- 
ing of  that  with  these.  He  also  much  delighted  in  Anato- 
my, in  which  he  acquired  a  considerable  skill,  which  also  he 

♦  Majesty  and  love  agree  not  well  together,  and  are  never  placed  in 
ojf^e  seaL 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  119 

not  a  little  improved  by  frequent  dissections.  And  in  his 
public  ministry,  he  often  made  use  of  this  his  insight,  by 
composing,  with  Galen,  hymns  to  the  Creator,  whose  infinite 
wisdom  he  was  often  heard  to  admire,  in  the  contrivance  of 
man's  outward  frame,  and  in  the  rare  contexture,  depend- 
ance,  and  use  of  all,  even  the  minutest  parts,  in  the  excel- 
lent fabric  of  man's  body.  As  to  his  skill  in  the  languages, 
it  was  not  contemptible,  especially  in  those  three*  which 
(as  Ludovicus  Vivus  saith)  Christ  sanctified  upon  the 
cross. 

THIRDLY,    HIS    MODERATION    AND    HUMILITY. 

He  managed  his  dissents  in  judgment  from  others  with 
great  charity,  humility,  and  moderation,  most  strictly  ob- 
serving what  he  still  exhorted  his  flock  unto,  viz.  To  speak 
evil  of  no  man,  much  less  of  dignities.  Insomuch  that  when 
his  judgment  was  at  any  time  desired  concerning  any  ser- 
mon which  he  had  heard,  and  any  minister,  conformist  or 
non-conformist,  though  weak  and  mean,  he  would  yet  ever 
find  matter  of  commendation,  none  of  dispraise,  judging 
the  minister,  and  his  discourse  at  least,  to  be  honest  and  of 
good  intent.  He  abhorred  to  entrench  on  the  Divine  Prero- 
gative, in  judging  of  men's  states  before  the  time  ;  and  in 
condemning  men's  actions  at  all  adventures,  without  con- 
sidering their  lessening  or  altering  circumstances.  And  as 
he  liked  to  judge  no  man  beyond  his  sphere,  and  speak  evil 
of  no  man  ;  so  in  his  life  did  he  reap  as  great  and  visible  re- 
ward as  any  for  this  most  christian  practice  ;  for  the  tongues 
even  of  all  did  pay  tribute  to  his  good  name  ;  which  was  a 
thing  so  entire  and  sacred,  that  scarce  a  Rabsheka  or  Shimei 
could  find  a  passage  by  which  to  invade  it.  His  good  name 
was  as  a  precious  box  of  oinmtent,  by  his  death  especially 
broken  and  poured  forth,  the  delicious  scent  whereof  all  those 
hearts  with  great  delight  retain,  which,  like  Lydia's,  were 
opened  to  his  heavenly  doctrine  ;  and  not  only  so,  but  they 
will  perpetuate  it,  whilst  they  have  children's  children  by 
whom  to  eternize  his  memory. 

*  Latin,  Greek,  and  Hebrew, 


120  THE    LIFE    AKD    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VlH.) 

FOURTHLY,   HIS   PRACTICE   AS   TO   CHURCH-COMMUNION.      HIS 
JUDGMENT    AS    TO    OBEDIE.NCE    TO    AUTHORITY. 

As  respects  his  practice  and  moderate  opinion  in  point  of 
chureh-communiou,  and  his  judgment  in  point  of  obedience 
to  the  supreme  power,  together  with  liis  great  regard  to,  and 
earnest  insisting  on,  second-table  duties,  much  may  be  said  to 
his  worthy  praise.  He  as  frequently  attended  on  the  public 
worship  as  his  opportunities  and  strength  permitted,  and 
often  declared  his  very  good  liking  of  some  sermons,  which 
he  heard  from  the  present  incumbent.  He  did  not  account 
that  none  could  worship  God  aright,  unless  in  all  instances 
and  smaller  circumstances  of  worship  they  wholly  accorded 
with  his  apprehensions  ;  but  with  the  divine  Apostle  he  had 
learnt  to  say,  Notwithstanding  every  way,  whether  in  pre- 
tence or  in  truth,  Christ  is  preached  ;  and  1  therein  do  re- 
joice, yea  and  will  rejoice.  He  knew  of  how  great  moment 
it  was  that  the  public  worship  of  God  should  be  maintained, 
and  that  its  assemblies  should  not  be  relinquished,  though 
some  of  its  administrations  did  not  clearly  approve  them- 
selves unto  him  ;  because  upon  the  account  of  some  imper- 
fections and  pollutions  in  them,  supposed  or  real,  to  with- 
draw communion  is  evidently  to  suppose  ourselves  joined 
before  our  time  to  the  heavenly  assembly  ;  or  to  have  found 
such  a  one  here  on  earth,  exempt  from  all  mixtures  and  im- 
perfections, of  worshippers  and  worship.  He  abandoned 
not  all  forms,  but  their  formal  use  ;  neither  those  in  j)ar- 
ticular,  publicly  established  (through  a  fond  prejudice  or  par- 
tiality, as  may  be  affirmed  of  too  many),  but  hath  been 
heard  much  to  commend  that  form  of  thanksgiving,  both 
excellent  and  ancient,  viz.  the  Te  JDevm,,  and  particularly 
that  sentence  in  it.  The  noble  army  of  martyrs  praise  thee  ; 
Tvhich  he  was  wont  to  mention  with  a  certain  exultation. 
So  moderate  and  calm  he  was  in  his  judgment,  that  when 
the  two  new  forms  in  the  liiurgy,  viz  on  the  horrid  decol. 
laiion  of  Kino;  Charles  the  First,  and  on  the  return  oj  King 
Charles  the  Second,  were  first  printed,  he  was  so  lar  from 
nauseating  them,  because  forms,  or  because  bearing  the 
stamp  of  authority,  that  he  had  even  resolved  to  read  them 
(though  then  only  as  I  remember,  recommended),  had  not 
some  occurrences,  which  I  need  not  name,  prevailed  with 
him  at  present  to  forbear. 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  121 

His  Loyalty, 

It  appeared  that  he  had  a  due  sense  of  the  grand  import- 
ance of  the  obedience  of  subjects  to  the  siiprenne  magistrate, 
by  some  excellent  sermons  which  he  preached  on  that  of  the 
Apostle,  Rom.  xiii  ver.  1.  a  little  before  his  ejection  ;  where 
and  when  his  judgment  was  so  strict,  as  unjustly  to  offend 
some,  whose  weakness  and  ignorance,  by  reason  of  a  long 
proscription  of  the  regal  power,  had  made  over  scrupulous  or 
erroneous.  His  loyalty  also  to  his  prince  he  discovered  in 
observing  the  injunction  of  the  wise  man,  viz.  J\^ot  to  curse 
the  king,  no  not  in  his  bed-chamber^  or  retiring-rooms  :  For 
he  hath  often  been  seen  with  indignation  to  turn  from,  and 
hush  into  silence,  all  reports  or  surmises,  true  or  false,  which 
directly  or  indirectly,  did  tend  to  detract  from,  and  defame 
dignities  ;  accounting  them  no  cause  of  withdrawing  or  less- 
ening our  just  honour  and  obedience;  but  rather  of  giving 
ourselves  the  more  to  prayer  and  humilicition. 

FIFTHLY,    HIS    RESPECT    TO    SECOND-TABLE    DUTIES. 

He  was  not  only  a  man  aspiring  to  the  heights,  but  also 
respecting  the  due  breadth  and  extent  of  religion,  being  well 
advised^  how  much  the  vitals  and  honour  of  religion  in  the 
world  are  conserved  by,  and  concerned  in,  aconscionable  dis- 
charge of  second-table  duties.  That  he  had  a  deep  sense  of 
the  great  advantage  or  disadvantage  accruing  to  religion,  by 
the  strict  or  remiss  performance  of  the  duties  of  the  second- 
table,  and  particularly  those  of  the  fifth-commandment,  all 
bear  him  witness  in,  that  he  upon  several  texts  for  a  long 
time  together,  most  faithfully  instructed  his  people  in  rela- 
tive duties  (than  which,  none  indeed  are  more  momentous 
and  less  observed),  and  most  sharply  reproved  the  guilty  for 
their  failures  therein  ;  on  all  which  relations,  their  duties, 
and  defects,  he  particularly  and  with  much  zeal  insisted. 
Witness  also  his  great  grief  and  indignations,  which  he  fre- 
quently conceived,  and  with  great  vehemency  expressed  in 
lamenting  over,  and  reproving  some  professors  of  religion, 
for  their  wretched  neglect  and  breach  of  some  se<.'ond-table 
precepts  ;  the  scandal  and  dishonour  of  vvhich  to  religion, 
and  the  religious,  how  he  resented,  none  but  God  and  his 
own  soul  did  thoroughly  know.  He  vehemently  detested 
that  impious  and  hellish  design  of  putting  asunder  (in  this 
matter)  what  God  hath  joined  together,  viz.  those  commands 

11* 


122  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.   VIII.) 

respecting  God  and  our  neighbour;  both  which  he  hath 
equally  appointed  to  us,  as  rules  of  direction  and  judgment. 
He  was  neither  Legalist  or  Solifidian  ;  neither  Ritualist  nor 
Enthusiast,  not  so  much  above  in  the  mount  with  God  as 
not  also  to  come  down  to  his  neighbour,  whom  he  did  ac- 
cost, as  Moses,  with  both  tables  in  his  hand,  on  which  his 
lite  and  doctrine  did  constantly  and  excellently  comment. 

SIXTHLY,   HIS   LABOURS  IN   THE  MINISRTY. 

As  respects  his  great  industry  and  happy  labours  in  the 
ministry,  together  with  his  great  prudence  and  conipassion 
in  applying  himself  to  the  souls  cf  his  flock,  according  to 
their  most  pressing  needs  ;  none  who  knew  the  former,  but 
must  also  confess  and  admire  the  latter. 

1,  His  prudence  in  iliem. 

His  prudence  then  in  apportioning  as  well  as  designing, 
the  most  suitable  and  seasonable  instructions  to  his  people, 
was  most  apparent,  in  that  he  was  still,  after  he  had  finish- 
ed a  foregoing  text  or  discourse,  even  at  a  loss,  as  he  hath 
often  expressed  himself  to  some  of  his  friends,  what  subject 
most  advantageous  and  seasonable  to  his  auditory  he  should 
next  insist  on  ;  so  far  he  was  from  aiming  or  shooting  atro- 
vers,  in  his  divine  instructions  and  exhortations.  And  so 
loth  he  was  to  labour  in  vain,  and  to  pass  from  one  dis- 
course to  another,  as  one  unconcerned  whether  he  had  sown 
any  good  seeds  or  not  on  the  hearts  of  his  hearers  ;  that  in 
the  close  of  his  applicatory  part  on  any  text  (which  some- 
times he  handled  for  a  considerable  while),  he  ever  express- 
ed his  great  unwillingness  to  leave  that  subject,  till  he  could 
have  some  assurance  that  he  had  not  fought  in  that  spiritual 
warfare  against  sin,  as  one  who  beateth  the  air;  when  also 
he  expressed  his  great  fear,  lest  he  should,  after  all  his  most 
importunate  warnings,  leave  them  as  he  found  them.  And 
here  with  how  much  holy-talking  Rhetoric,  did  he  frequently 
expostulate  the  case  with  impenitent  sinners,  in  words  too 
many  to  mention,  and  yet  too  weighty  to  be  forgotten  ;  ve- 
hemently urging  them  to  come  to  some  good  resolve  betbre 
he  and  they  parted,  and  to  make  their  choice  either  of  life 
or  death. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  123 

His  compassion  on  Sonls. 

His  compassion  also  towards  all  committed  to  his  charge 
was  most  manifest,  especially  towards  the  ignorant,  tho^ethat 
were  out  of  the  way,  and  ihose  that  did  move  heavily  or  in 
the  way. 

(1.)  On  the  Ignorant,  in  instructing  and  catechising 
them.  —  To  be  lonorant.  And  here,  knowing  that  xvithoid 
knoii'ledge  the  heart  is  not,  and  cannot  be  good  ;  and  con- 
sidering also  how  too  successfully  the  evil  one,  by  sowing 
evil  seeds  betimes  in  the  hearts  of  youth,  doth  ever  alter 
forestall  and  defeat  the  most  laborious  endeavours  ibr  their 
recovery  and  salvation:  Ihus  knowing  and  considering, 
he  was  in  nothing  more  industrious,  and  in  nothing  more 
happy  and  successful  in  exerting  his  industry,  than  in  an 
early  sowing  those  blessed  seeds  of  divine  knowledge  in 
the  hearts  of  all  the  youth  that  he  C(  uld  reach  in  person  or 
otherwise;  by  which  they  were  exceeding'y  formed  to  re- 
ceive all  good  impressions.  During  the  time  of  his  public 
ministry  on  every  Lord's-day  in  the  afternoon  he  constantly 
catechised,  before  a  great  congregation,  the  youth  of  each 
sex  by  turns,  amongst  whom  were  several  both  young  men 
and  women,  sometimes  five  or  six  of  the  chief  scholars  of  the 
free  school,  sometimes  five  or  six  of  the  apprentices  of  the 
town,  some  of  whom,  although  of  man's  estate,  accounted  it 
not  a  disgrace  to  learn  (according  to  the  guise  of  this  mad 
world)  but  to  be  ignorant.  Sometimes,  of  the  other  sex,  five 
or  six  young  gentlewomen,  who  were  under  his  wife's  tuition 
(and  so  his  domestic  over  sight),  kept  their  turns,  of  whom 
she  had  not  a  few,  and  those  the  daughters  of  gentlemen  of 
good  rank  far  and  near,  whose  laudable  emulation,  and  love 
to  their  father,  (as  they  styled  him,)  and  to  the  work,  was 
the  cause  why  they  were  not  so  over-bashful  as  to  decline  so 
advantageous  a  course;  by  which,  together  with  domestic 
instructions  and  example,  even  all  received  a  tincture  of  piety 
and  religion,  and  many  a  thorough  impression  :  Besides 
these,  several  virgins  also,  and  among  these  the  daughters  of 
some  of  the  chief  magistrates  in  the  town,  did  keep  their 
turns.  In  this  his  course  he  drew  out,  on  the  short  answers  in 
the  Assembly's  Catechism,  an  excellent  discourse  on  all  the 
points  of  the  Chri.^tian  Theology,  which  he  handled  suc- 
cessfully, reducing  his  discourse  to  several  heads,  which  he 
also  proved  by  pertinent  places  of  scripture ;  which  done, 


124  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH     OF  (CHAP.   VIII.) 

he  gave  both  the  heads  and  proofs  written  at  length,  on  a 
week  day,  lo  those  whom  he  designed  to  catechise  on  the 
ensuing  Lord's-day,  which,  besides  the  short  answers  in  the 
Catechism,  and  the  annexed  proofs,  they  committed  to  me- 
mory, and  rendered  on  the  afternoon  of  the  day  aforesaid. 
Througont  all  which  course  he  approved  himself  to  be  a  most 
substantial  divine. 

Neither  did  his  catechistical  labours  rest  here,  but  also 
on  Thursdays  in  the  afternoon  (as  I  remember)  he  cate- 
chised in  the  church,  street  by  street,  whole  families,  ex. 
cepting  the  married  or  more  aged,  in  order  :  which  exercise 
(1  suppose)  he  designed  as  preparatory  to  his  Lord's-day's 
work.  Besides  this,  on  Saturdays  in  the  morning,  he  cate- 
chised the  free-school  of  that  place,  instructing  them  in  the 
points  of  christian  doctrine,  and  excellently  explaining  the 
answers  in  the  ^ssemhlii''s  Catechism,  discovering  a  mine  of 
knowledge  in  them,  and  in  himself  How  excellent  was  his 
design,  and  great  his  labour,  besides  all  this,  in  going  from 
house  to  house,  and  instructing  both  old  and  young,  is  else- 
where abundantly  declared.  Neither  was  this  his  labour  in 
vain,  but  became  even  as  successful  as  laborious  ;  for  there 
are  few  but  have  gratefully  acknowledged  that,  by  this 
means,  they  were  either  led  into  the  knowledge,  or  induced 
to  the  belief,  choice,  and  practice  of  that  which  was  and  is 
of  sovereign  advantage  to  this  day.  And  how  happy  and 
likely  a  course  he  took  herein  to  advance  religion  in  the  na- 
tion, on  the  hearts  and  lives  of  men  ;  and  how  far  less  suc- 
cessful and  probable  all  other  means  are,  aiming  at  this  end, 
without  this  initial  work,  it  is  left  to  all  pious  and  consider- 
ing men  to  judge. 

(2.)  On  those  that  err,  by  reproving  and  reducing  them. — 
He  had  not  only  compasssion  over  the  ignorant,  but  also  over 
those  who  were  out  of  the  way.  Witness  his  faithtVd  and 
effectual  discharge  of  that  great  duty  of  giving  seasonable 
reproofs,  of  which  his  great  faithfulness  there  is  abundant 
mention  elsewhere.  And  by  so  much  the  more  did  bis  ex- 
cellent discharge  hereof  speak  forth  his  high  praise,  by  how 
much  the  more  difficult  he  ever  apprehended  it  aright  to  ap- 
ply it.  He  had  been  heard  often  to  say,  thai  it  was  Jar 
more  difjicvlt,  to  him  to  give,  than  to  take  a  reproof,  con- 
sidering  how  great  wisdom,  courage,  compassion,  s<  If -denial, 
(^•c,  is  required  in  order  to  is  right  discharge.  And  though 
he  was  so  rarely  passive,  and  often  active  in  this  work,  yet 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  1*25 

the  frequency  of  his  giving  a  reproof,  never  made  it  so  easy 
as  to  be  less  ditficult  than  to  receive  it.  But  ever  this  work 
was  to  him  not,  only  an  act  of  the  greatest  self-denial,  but 
also  the  result  of  a  strong  conflict  vviihin,  betwixt  his  indig. 
nation  at  the  sin  and  compassion  of  the  sinner.  And  yet 
the  consideration  of  the  difficulty  was  not  to  him  an  argu- 
ment to  forbear,  but  rather  a  stronger  motive  to  undertake 
it  ;  whoe\er  delighted  to  converse  in,  and  conquer  the  diffi- 
culties of  Christianity,  both  in  doing  and  sufiermg.  Small 
dithculties  here  were  not  his  match  ;  and  there  were  no  no- 
ble achievements  in  religion  to  which  he  attained  not,  or 
vigorously  aspired. 

His  trnly  heroic  spirit.  As  it  is  said  of  Themistocles, 
that  famous  Athenian  captain,  that  the  acts  of  Miliiudes 
broke  his  sleep  ;  so  as  truly  may  st  be  said  of  this  blessed 
saint,  "  that  the  acts  and  monuments  of  the  famous  worthies, 
mentioned  in  the  Hebrews,  and  of  those  of  the  same 
achievements  with  them  in  all  ages  of  the  world,  even  broke 
his  sleep,"  by  impregnating  his  soul  with  high  designs  of 
aspiring  after  their  perfections.  Oft,  therelore,  he  hath 
been  heard  to  excite  christians  so  long  to  move  in  the  sphere 
of  difficulties,  till  the  sweet  severities  of  Christianity  (as  he 
often  called  them)  were  subdued,  and  even  made  familiar; 
encouraging  them  with  this  consideration,  "that  even  they 
would  highly  approve  their  divine  love  and  sHiCerity,  aiiu 
conceive  a  pleasure  in  those  difficult  acts,  which  would 
equal,  yea,  exceed  a  pleasure  of  their  natural  actions." 

(3.)  On  the  doubting,  by  resolving  and  releasing  them. 
—  Neither  had  he  only  compassion  on  those  that  were  out  of 
the  way,  but  also  on  those  who  moved  heavily  on  in  the  way. 
How  often  hath  he  raised  and  rectified  desponding  chris- 
tians, those  who  are  too  prone  to  account  doubting,  which 
is  their  sin,  to  be  their  duty  and  virtue.  At  once  he  hath 
often  unloosened  them  from  the  straitness  of  their  needless 
fears  and  disquiets,  and  undeceived  them,  by  discovering 
the  latent  unbelief  that  did  lie  lurking  in  such  despondings, 
assuring  them  in  these  words,  "  that  under  a  sly  pretence  of 
humility,  they  did  call  in  question  God's  veracity." 

SEVENTHLY,     HIS    SINGULAR    PIETY. 

As  respects  his  sins^vlar  piety.  All  who  knew  him  can 
say  much,  and  yet  all  but  little,  considering  how  much  more 
hath  escaped  the  most  tenacious  memory,  observant  eye,  and 


126  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.   VHI.  j 

attentive  ear.  Yet  he  must  be  wretchedly  inobservant, 
who,  amidst  so  many  and  great  instances  of  it,  can  make  no 
reflections. 

How  much  he  conceived  it  as  his  own  and  others  greatest 
interest,  ornament,  and  felicity  herein  to  excel,  will  be 
manifest  by  his  exhortation,  which  he  gave  to  a  young  scho- 
lar ready  to  depart  to  the  university,  in  words  to  this  pur- 
pose, "  I  know,"  saith  he,  "  that  you  will  labour  to  excel 
in  learning,  but  be  .sure  to  excel  as  in  that,  so  also  and  espe- 
cially in  holiness,  which  will  render  you  one  of  the  most 
useful  and  amiable  creatures  in  the  world.  Learning  will 
render  you,  perchance,  acceptable  to  men  ;  but  piety  both 
to  God  and  men.  By  that  you  will  shine  only  on  earth  to 
the  clods  thereof,  and  perhaps  in  some  obscure  corner  of  it ; 
but  this  is  an  orient  pearl,  which  will  shine  in  you  on  earth 
and  in  heaven,  both  to  God,  angels,  and  men."  How  much 
he  dwelt  on  this  exhortation,  and  these  apprehensions,  will 
be  evident  by  a  pious  letter  which  he  sent  to  the  person  fore- 
named,  some  years  after,  wherein  his  words  are  these — 
"  0  !  study  God,  and  study  yourself  closely,  and  pursue 
holiness  more  than  learning,  though  both  these  together 
make  a  happy  constellation,  and  are  like  Castor  and  Pollux, 
which,  when  they  appear  together,  do  ever  presage  good  to 
the  mariners."     And  that  it  might   appear  that  he  did  not 


--   ijr 


wn 


nd  holiness  in  the  general,  but  also  in  the  par- 
ticular and  chief  instances  of  a  holy  life,  he  excellently  pro- 
ceeds in  the  same  letter,  saying,  "  I  much  commend  unto  you 
those  four  beautifying  lessons,  so  shortly  comprehended  in 
this  distich, 

Spernere  mundum,  spernere  nullum,  spernere  sese, 
Spernere  se  sperni,  quatuor  ista  beant.*" 

His  contempt  of  the  World. 

Happy  is  the  man  that  can  but  learn  this.  When  once 
a  man  is  arrived  hereto,  he  is  above  the  world's  reach,  and 
hath  attained  to  the  true  heroic  mind,  so  as  that  no  external 
commotions  will  be  able  to  disturb  his  tranquility  ;  neither 
will  the  comforts  or  crosses  here  below  make  any  great  acces- 

*  These  four  things  render  a  man  happy, — to  despise  the  world,  to 
despise  no  one,  to  despise  one's  self,  and  to  heed  little  about  one's  be- 
ing despised. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  127 

sion  to,  or  dimiimtion  from,  the  serenity  of  his  spirit.  And 
indeed,  nothing  was  more  conspicuous  in  this  blessed  saint 
than  that  generous  contempt  of  the  world,  that  true  loftiness, 
and  yet  profound  humility  of  spirit  (of  which  the  lessons 
aforementioned  are  but  as  so  many  instances)  which  he 
recommended  unto  others.  He  was  much  a  stranger  on  the 
earth,  like  the  kingly  prophet;  not  because  with  old  Bar- 
zillai  he  could  not,  but  would  not,  taste  or  comply  with  its 
pleasures  and  delights  ;  but  he  was  chiefly  induced,  by  a 
forced  exilement  from  his  desired  and  delectable  habitation, 
to  thitik  on  his  state  of  banishment  from  his  heavenly  coun- 
try whilst  here  militant  upon  earth,  and  to  solace  his  thoughts 
under  so  great  a  grievance,  by  such  divine  considerations  as 
those  which  he  mentions  in  the  following  words  of  his  fore- 
named  letter : — "  It  was,"  saith  he,  "the  divine  argument 
that  Epictetus  used  for  comfort  in  banishment,  '  Ubique 
habenda  sunt  coUoquia  cum  Deo.'*  I  met  lately  with  a  pas- 
sage out  of  one  of  the  Fathers,  which  I  engraved  upon  my 
heart  cf  '  Cui  Patria  solum  placet,  nimis  delicatus  est;  cui 
omnis  terra  patria,  is  fortis  est ;  cui  omnis  terra  exilium,  is 
sanctus  est.'  That's  worthy  of  a  saint  indeed  to  account  him- 
self always  in  the  state  of  banishment,  whilst  in  the  state  of 
mortality,  like  the  worthies  that  sojourned  even  in  the  land 
of  promise,  as  in  a  strange  country.  Such  a  sojourner  I 
wish  both  myself  and  you ;  and  may  the  moveableness  of 
our  present  state  fix  our  desires  upon  that  kingdom  which 
shall  never  be  shaken."     So  far  he. 

His  universal  and  uniform  Obedience, 

But  to  proceed  ;  he  declared  that  his  piety  was  genuine 
and  excellent  by  its  universal  regard  and  extent,  as  to  all 
God's  commands,  so  to  all  man's  converses  and  employ- 
ments ;  witness  his  earnest  and  frequent  exhortations,  where- 
by he  did  daily  call  upon  his  people  to  a  constant  uniform 
care  over  their  hearts  and  ways.  Nothing  did  he  more  pas- 
sionately dehort  them  from,  than  from  that  undoing  fraud 
unto  their  souls,  viz.  confining  their  religion  to  their  closets, 
upon  the  supposal  that  in  so  doing  they  had  there  put  in  suf- 

*  Converse  with  God  may  be  maintained  every  where. 

t  Fie  is  toodeiicaLe  who  is  delighted  with  his  own  country  only:  He 
is  a  courageous  man  whose  own  country  is  the  world  :  But  he  to  whom 
the  whole  world  is  a  place  of  banishment  is  a  saint. 


128  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.  VIII.) 

ficient  security  for  their  after  conversation,  and  had  bid  fair 
for  the  divine  favour,  as  if  religion  had  taught  men  only  to 
kneel,  and  not  how  to  work  ;  and  walk,  as  if  it  were  solitary 
or  deformed,  loving  only  to  move  in  the  private  path,  and  nar- 
row circle  of  our  morning  or  evening  devotions,  and  so  ever 
before  and  after  to  appear  least  in  sight ;  or  as  if  it  were  a 
fury,  and  so  to  be  limited,  and  not  to  be  entrusted  with  the 
universal  conduct  of  our  lives  and  actions.  For  many  there 
are  who  think  tit  rather  to  make  religion  their  vassal,  than 
undivided  companion  ;  to  command  it,  rather  than  it  should 
comniand  them,  and  therefore  they  make  it  to  keep  its  times 
and  places,  its  postures  and  due  distance,  and  think  not  good 
that  It  retain  to  their  company,  or  appear  in  their  words  or 
actions,  unless  \vhen  it  may  serve  the  uses  of  a  cloak  and 
cover  of  hypocrisy  and  iniquity. 

His  care  of  his  Thoughts  and  Ends,  especially  morning  and 
evening. 

But  enough  of  this  digression.  These  his  forementioned 
momentous  exhortations,  attended  with  most  excellent  mo- 
tives, designed  chiefly  to  direct  them  how  well  to  begin  and 
end  the  day  in  the  fear,  and  as  in  the  presence  of  God,  by 
hallowing  their  thoughts,  and  (as  his  words  were)  "setting 
their  ends  aright  in  the  morning  (then  making  their  resolves, 
and  piously  forecasting  the  work  of  the  day  following),  and 
by  an  impartial  survey  and  examination,  in  the  evening,  of 
their  compliance  or  non-compliance  with  their  foregoing  pre- 
scriptions unto  themselves  ;  whether  they  obtained  their  de- 
signs and  ends,  and  how  they  acquitted  themselves  in  the 
day  foregoing." 

His  delight  in  Self-examination. 

Thus  by  pointing  at  the  two  extremes  in  each  day,  he 
happily  secured  the  middle.  He  tacitly  convinced  them  by 
his  own  example  and  great  growth  in  piety  hereby,  and  ex- 
pressly by  many  other  eminet  instances,  how  advantageous  a 
course  he  had  recommended  to  them.  To  this  end  he  much 
applauded  those  two  no  less  excellent  than  common  books, 
the  Practice  of  Pietij,  and  Scndder^s  Daily  Walk.  By  this 
course  he  had  taught  himself  and  others,  as  by  constant, 
thouirh  small  gains,  to  arrive  to  great  acquests  in  Christianity, 
by  constant  and  short  accounts,  the  more  accurately  to  know 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  129 

the  state  of  their  souls,  and  the  more  easily  to  discern  their 
progress  or  declinings  ;  so,  as  the  more  to  rejoice  in  and 
promote  the  one,  and  the  sooner  to  put  limits  to  and  redress 
the  other.  Also  he  much  inculcated  on  each  christian  that 
important  duty  of  fore-appointiug  and  fixing  his  ends,  not 
only  in  the  general,  but  as  much  as  might  be  particularly 
and  explicitly  before  each  action  of  the  day,  but  especially 
each  solemn  action,  revolving  and  conceiving  such  a  thought 
and  resolve  as  this  in  his  mind. 

His  frequent  and  generous  Designs. 

"  This,  or  this  will  I  do  for  God,"  &c.  By  which  heed- 
ful course,  he  assured  the  observer  that  he  would  hallow  all 
his  actions,  and  reap  this  treble  advantage  (to  say  no  n.ore), 
both  of  espousing  the  divine  direction  and  blessing,  and  of 
obtaining  a  surer  testimoLy  of  his  sincerity,  and  also  a 
stronger  motive  to  diligence,  and  an  awful  circumspectness 
in  the  right  discharge  of  what  he  undertook.  In  compliance 
with  this  his  excellent  exhortation  unto  others,  he  knew 
not  a  day  wherein  he  arose  without  some  heavenly  design 
of  promoting  Gods's  glory,  and  the  good  of  souls  ;  account- 
ing it  a  shame  that  the  covetous  should  arise  with  such  anx- 
ious projects  of  compassing  his  desired  wealth,  the  ambi- 
tious his  airy  honours  and  granduer,  the  voluptuous  his  vain 
pleasures  ;  and  that  the  religious,  who  have  so  glorious  a 
prize  and  trophies  before  their  eyes,  should  be  men  of  no 
projects  or  designs.  If  of  any,  it  may  be  affirmed  of  him, 
that,  according  to  his  frequent  and  vehement  exhortation 
thereunto,  "  he  made  religion  his  business."  Which  war- 
thy  advice,  in  the  same  words,  he  did  so  often  inculcate, 
that  a  gentleman  meeting  a  plain  honest  country  man,  and 
discoursing  of  Mr.  x\lleine,  cavilled  at  this  passage,  which  he 
often  had  heard  from  him,  as  appearing  unto  him  absurd  and 
unintelligible,  "  not  knowing  how  anything  (as  he  said)  could 
be  called  '  a  man's  business,'  unless  that  which  is  secular  ;" 
so  foolishly  ignorant  of  the  just  interest  and  power  of  relig- 
ion  is  an  unliallowed  heart,  and  so  apt  to  quarrel  with  that 
wholesome  advice,  and  loth  to  be  in  earnest  in  any  thing, 
unless  in  the  pursuit  of  vanity  or  vice. 

His  Delight  in  Meditation. 

Neither  did  only  the  frequent  and  faithful  performance  of 
12 


130  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (CHAP.    VHI.) 

the  two  great  difficulties  of  Christianity,  reproof  and  self- 
examination  (coiisistiiigof  so  many  complicated  self-denials), 
proclaim  and  iniprove  his  great  piety,  but  also  his  so  great 
acquaintance  with  the  delightsome  work  of  heavenly  medi- 
tation. A  specimen  of  his  profitable  managery  of  this  work, 
and  his  great  heights  herein,  he  often  gave  in  some  of  his 
most  excellent  devotional  and  contemplative  discourses,  both 
dropped  from  his  mouth,  and  committed  to  wri(ing.  And 
as  was  his  delight,  so  were  his  converses  with  those  authors 
who  did  increase  his  contemplative  pleausure;  but  particu- 
larly he  delighted  in  Mr.  Baxter's  platform  of  meditation  on 
the  heavenly  felicity,  in  the  close  ot  his  Saiufs  Everlasting 
Resi,  great  part  whereol  he  so  digested  as  often  to  cite  it 
with  great  pleasure,  prefacing  its  citations  with  these  words, 
<'  Most  divinely  saith  that  man  of  (iod,  holy  Mr.  Baxter," 
&c.  And,  indeed,  had  not  his  zeal  for  God's  glory,  and 
the  salvation  of  souls,  engaged  him  so  much  to  an  active 
life,  he  could  have  even  lived  and  died  wholly  in  divine  con- 
templation and  adoration  ;  so  much  did  he  delight  to  shrink 
within  himself,  and  to  abandon  the  view  of  the  desperate  ad- 
ventures, and  antic  motions  of  a  mad  world  ;  that  so,  be- 
ing shut  to  these,  he  might  only  open  his  soul  to  God  and 
glory,  displaying  it  to  the  glorious  beams  of  the  sun  of  right- 
eousness. Therefore  did  he  often  delight  in  his  devotions 
to  converse  with  the  fowls  of  the  air  and  the  beasts  of  the 
field,  since  these  were  more  innocent  and  less  degenerate 
than  man. 

With  streams  and  plants  did  he  delight  to  walk,  and  all 
these  did  utter  to  his  attentive  ear  the  praise  and  know- 
ledge of  his  Creator,  and  in  his  unsettled  sojourings  from 
place  to  place  he  did  often  (to  use  his  words)  "look  back 
with  sweetness  and  great  content  on  the  places  of  his  for- 
mer pleasant  retirements,"  setting,  as  it  were,  a  mark  upon 
those  which  had  marvellously  pleased  him  in  his  solitudes, 
by  administering  to  his  contemplative  delight. 

His  Delight  in  Praising,  i$c. 

In  the  close,  his  great  perfection  in  holiness  was  manifest 
in  that  he  loved  so  much,  and  lived  a  life  of  praise  and 
thanksgiving.  Being  arrived  to  some  perfection,  he  desired 
and  designed  to  antedate  the  work  and  songs  of  spirits  made 
perfect.  Thus  David  much  proclaimed  his  perfection  in 
piety,  by  his  so  great  heights  in  this  heavenly  employment. 


THE    REV.   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  131 

And  it  is  evident  that  saints  most  devoted  to  this  heavenly 
repast  are  most  perfect,  hecause  the  more  men  adore  and 
praise,  the  less  they  want;  tor  sad  and  constant  complaints, 
and  pensive  thoughts,  are  the  attendants  of  great  wants,  and 
the  less  men  want  the  more  is  their  perfection.  His  exhor- 
tations to  christians  did  frequently  design  to  raise  them  to 
that  sublime  life  of  praise  and  thanksgiving.  Often  hath 
he  reproved  christians,  charging  them  with  the  greatest  folly 
and  ingratitude  in  so  much  neglecting  this  so  pleasing  and 
profitable  duty,  and  in  interesting*  it  so  little  in  their  reli- 
gious exercises.  He  much  condemned  them  for  that  too 
general  practice  in  thrusting  so  enlarging  a  part  of  their  de- 
votions into  so  narrow  a  room,  as  only  the  close  of  their 
prayers.  Especially  did  he  excite  christians  to  this  duty  on 
the  Lord's-day,  as  the  most  proper  work  for  so  divine  a  fes- 
tival ;  shaming  them  with  the  excellent  example  of  the  prim- 
itive christians,  who  welcomed  in  the  sun,  that  brought  so 
glorious  a  day  as  the  Christian  Sabbath,  with  their  heavenly 
hymns  to  their  Creator  and  Redeemer,  and  reproving  them 
for  so  little  considering  and  observing  the  proper  end  ot  its 
institution.  But  as  it  respects  its  own  practice,  a  great,  yea 
and  sometimes  the  greatest,  part  of  his  prayer  was  thanks- 
giving ;  and,  indeed,  he  was  never  so  much  in  his  element, 
either  in  prayer  or  in  preaching,  as  when  he  was  extolling 
and  adoring  the  love  of  Christ,  and  marvelling  at  God's  in- 
finite goodness  in  the  gift  of  his  Son  our  Saviour. 

Neither  did  he  so  gaze  upon  and  adore  Christ  his  Re- 
deem*  r  and  his  redemption,  as  to  forget  to  sound  forth  the 
praises  of  God  the  Creator.  For  often  he  hath  been  heard, 
with  admiration  and  praise,  to  take  notice  of  the  divine  power 
and  wisdom  in  the  works  of  creation  ;  and  therefore  in  the 
open  air.  in  the  private  retirement  of  some  field  or  wood,  he 
delighted  to  address  himself  to  God  in  praise,  that  his  eyes 
might  affect  his  heart,  and  awake  his  glory.  And  here  often 
he  hath  been  heard  to  say,  "that  man  was  the  tongue  of 
the  whole  creation,  appointed  as  the  creatures'  interpreter, 
to  speak  forth,  and  make  articulate  the  praises  which  they 
but  silently  intimate." 

He  much  delighted  in  vocal  music,  and  especially  in 
singing  psa/ms  and  hymns,  particularly  Mr.  Barton's  :  wit- 
ness  his  constant   practice  after   dinner  elsewhere  related. 

In  giving  it  so  little  a  share  in  their  religious  exercises. 


132  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.  IX.) 

In  him  it  may  be  said,  in  as  high  a  degree  as  of  most  saints 
on  earth,  "  that  each  thought  was  to  him  a  prayer,  each  prayer 
a  song,  each  day  a  Sabbath,  each  meal  a  sacrament,  a 
foretaste  of  that  eternal  repast  to  which  he  hath  now  arriv- 
ed." 

His  Time-redeeming  Thrift, 

To  conclude — that  he  might  effect  all  the  excellent  pur- 
poses of  a  holy  life,  he  seta  high  vahie  on  his  most  precious 
time  ;  and  did,  with  so  wise  and  holy  forecast,  each  day  re- 
deem and  fill  it  up,  that  he  did  not  only  not  do  nothing,  but 
also  not  little,  though  in  a  little  and  short  time.  All  com- 
panies did  hear  him  proclaim  the  price  of  time  ;  and  how  ex- 
cellently and  advantageously  he  did  it  in  public  before  his 
ejection,  in  several  most  useful  sermons  on  Ephes.  v.  16, 
many  that  heard  him  do  to  this  day,  to  their  great  comfort 
and  profit,  remember.  And  the  more  remarkable  was  this 
his  holy  thrift,  because  prophetical  of  his  short  abode  here  on 
earth. 

His  diligence  and  holiness  in  this  his  sphere  of  action  was 
a  presage  of  his  speedy  translation,  as  with  Enoch,  to  the 
sphere  of  vision  and  fruition,  for  a  reward  of  his  singular 
piety  ;  it  being  not  probable  that  he,  who  made  so  great  a 
haste  to  dispatch  his  heavenly  work,  should  be  long  with- 
out his  desired  recompense. 


CHAP.  IX. 

A  few  Additions  to  the  former  Character,  by  his  Reverend  and 
intimate  Friend,  Mr.  R.  F. 

He  was  a  person,  with  whom  for  many  years  I  was  well 
acquainted,  and  the  more  I  knew  him.  the  more  I  loved  and 
admired  the  rich  and  exceeding  grace  of  God  in  him.  I 
looked  on  him  as  one  of  the  most  elevated,  refined,  choice 
saints,  that  ever  I  knew  or  expect  (while  I  live)  to  know; 
and  that  because  (among  others)  I  observed  these  things  of 
him. 

1.  A  most  sincere,  pure,  and  absolute  consecration  of 
himself  to  God  in  Christ  Jesus  ;  his  soul  had  first  practised 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH     ALLKINE.  133 

the  covenant  dedication,  which  his  hand  afterward  prescrib- 
ed,  as  a  pattern  to  others,  in  his  father- in-laws's  book. 

Tliere  seemed  no  sinister  end,  or  false  affection,  to  move 
or  sway  him  in  his  way  ;  bnt  the  good  pleasure  of  the  Lord, 
the  edification  of  his  church,  and  the  salvation  of  sou's, 
were  the  only  marks  his  eye  seemed  at  all  to  regard,  in  his 
designs  and  acts.  I  know  no  other  man's  heart;  but  thus 
he  appeared  to  my  most  attentive  observation  ;  and  so  I 
fully  believe  concerning  him,  as  much  as  of  any  person  I 
ever  saw. 

2.  In  this  his  dedication  to  God,  he  was  carried  with  the 
highest  and  purest  flime  of  divine  love  that  ever  I  observed 
in  any.  And  that  love  arising  from  a  clear  vision  of  the 
beautv  of  divine  perfections,  especially  his  gospel  love  ;  the 
sight  of  which  beauty  and  excellency  seemed  perpetually  to 
possess  and  ravish  his  soul.  This  love  seemed  wholly  un- 
mixed  from  all  that  carnal  heat  that  would  carry  him  into 
fantastic  or  indecent  expressions  ;  but  his  mind  seemed  to 
be  always  ascending  with  its  might  in  the  greatest  calmness 
and  satisfaction.  Thus  have  I  oft  observed  him  in  frequent 
and  silent  elevation  of  heart,  manifested  by  the  most  genuine 
and  private  liitiag  up  of  his  eyes,  and  joined  with  the 
sweetest  smile  of  his  countenance,  when  (lam  confident)  he 
little  thought  of  being  seen  by  any.  Thus  have  I  oft  heard 
him  flow  in  prayer  and  discourse,  with  the  clearest  convic- 
tion, and  dearest  taste  of  divine  excellencv  and  goodness  ; 
and  the  fiillest,  highest,  and  most  pleased  expression  of  his 
being  overcome  by  it,  and  giving  up  his  all  in  esteem  to  it. 
But  this  love,  in  the  greatest  demonstration,  appeared  by 
his  perpetual  greedy  aid  insatiable  spending  of  his  whole 
self  for  the  glory  of  God,  good  of  the  church,  and  salvation 
of  souls.  His  head  was  ever  contriving,  his  tongue  pres- 
sing, and  his  whole  man  acting  some  design  for  these;  so  he 
lived,  and  so  he  died.  He  laboured  and  suffered  himself  into 
the  maladies  which  ended  him.  And  when  he  was  at  Bath, 
like  a  perfect  sk^;leton,  and  could  move  neither  hand  nor  foot, 
when  his  physicians  had  forbidden  him  all  preaching,  and 
dissuaded  him  from  vocal  praying  (as  being  above  his 
strength),  yet  then  would  he  almost  daily  be  carried  in  his 
Bath  chair  to  the  alms-houses,  and  little  children's  schools, 
and  there  give  them  catechisms,  teach  them  the  meaning  of 
them,  and  call  them  to  an  account,  how  they  remembered 
and  understood.      And  he  died  designing  a  way  how  every 

12* 


134  THE    LIFE    AND    DEATH    OF  (cHAP.    IX.) 

poor  child  in  Somersetshire  might  have,  learn,  and  be  in- 
structed in  the  Assembly's  catechism  ;  yea,  and  at  the  ex- 
pression of  his  affection,  I  cannot  but  mention,  the  fVequentest 
ecstacies  or  raptures  of  spirit,  wherein  he  lay  on  his  bed 
(when  his  body  was  even  deprived  of  all  power  of  its  own 
motion,  but  with  no  great  pain),  in  consideration  of  divine 
love  to  him  in  iJjeneral,  and  in  particular  that  he  felt  no  great 
pain.  Never  heard  I  God  so  loved,  and  thanked,  in  the 
highest  confluences  of  pleasing  providences  by  others,  as  he 
was  by  him  in  his  affliction  for  not  inHicting  great  pain  upon 
him  ;  though  he  was  other  ways  so  sad  a  spectacle  of  weak- 
ness, and  looked  so  like  death,  that  some  great  ladies  oft 
hindered  his  coming  into  the  bath,  the  ghastliness  of  his 
look  did  so  affright  them. 

3.  His  pure  and  sacred  love  wrought  in  him  a  great  spirit 
of  charity  and  meekness  to  men  of  other  judgments  and  per- 
suasions, and  great  affection  towards  all  such  in  whom  he 
found  any  spiritual  good.  His  zeal  was  all  of  a  building, 
and  no  destroying  nature  ;  he  had  too  much  wisdom  to 
esteem  his  own  thoughts  to  be  the  standard  of  all  other  men's. 
His  clear  light  and  pure  heat  made  him  of  a  more  discern- 
ing, substantial,  and  divine  temper  than  to  reject  any  (in 
whom  charity  could  see  anything  of  a  new  nature)  for  dif- 
fering from  him  in  the  modes  or  forms  of  discipline  or  wor- 
ship, or  in  disputable  points. 

4.  Suitably  to  his  high  degree  of  holiness  and  divine  com- 
munion, he  enjoyed  the  richest  assurance  of  divine  love  to 
himself  in  particular,  and  his  saving  interest  in  Christ.  I 
believe  few  men  were  ever  born  that  attained  to  so  clear, 
satisfied,  and  powerful  evidence  that  his  sins  were  pardoned, 
and  his  person  accepted  in  Jesus,  unto  eternal  life,  and  had 
more  glorious  foretastes  of  Heaven.  1  remember  once, 
coming  in  when  he  was  kneeling  down  to  family  prayer,  his 
heart  was  in  that  duty  carried  forth  into  such  expressions  of 
love  and  praise  for  the  sealings  of  everlasting  love  and  life, 
as  I  never  heard  before  or  since  ;  and  such  as  I  am  fully 
satisfied  none  could  express,  but  who  had  received  the  white 
stone  with  the  new  name  in  it. 

But  this  was  not  accidental  to  him,  or  unusual ;  for 
(whatever  clouds  he  might  possibly  have,  though  I  know  of 
none,)  yet  I  am  sure,  for  a  good  time  before  his  death,  he 
lived  in  the  very  dawning  to  glory,  both  in  the  full  assurance 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE,  135 

of  it  as  his  portion,  and  a  spirit  of  sanctity,  love,  and  praise, 
like  unto  it. 

And  though,  in  the  very  hour  of  his  dying,  his  disease 
had  heated  his  head  ;  and  in  his  raptures,  he  had  expres- 
sions, which  at  another  time  his  grace  and  reason  would  not 
have  used  ;  yet,  all  the  copies  1  have  seen  of  those  tran- 
sports, in  the  substance  of  them,  speak  only  fuller  assurance 
of  God's  love  to  him,  and  his  highest  returns  of  love  to 
Christ  again. 

And  I  do  not  at  all  wonder  that  a  person  shining  so  much 
with  the  divine  image,  and  living  so  uninterruptedly  in  the 
clearest  and  nearest  divine  communion,  should  enjoy  such 
assurance  of  God's  everlasting  love,  and  be  filled  so  with  joy 
thereia,  and  making  such  returns  of  love  and  praise  thereto. 


CHRISTIAN    LETTERS, 

FULL   OF  SPIRITUAL  INSTRUCTIONS, 

TENDIiNG    TO    THE 

PROMOTING  OF  THE  POWER  OF  GODLINESS, 

BOTH  IN  PERSONS  AND  FAMILIES, 

BY    THE 

REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE, 

AUTHOR   OF   "a    CALL    TO   THE    UNCONVERTED,"    &C. 


139 


CHRISTIAN  LETTERS,  (fee. 


LETTER  L 

2u  his  Wife,  to  dispose  her  to  his  acceptance  of  Taunton  on 
small  maintenance. 

My  Dear  Heart, — By  this  time  I  hope  thou  hast  re- 
ceived mine  by  Martiu,  and  also  an  answer  touching  their 
resolution  at  Taunton.  My  thoughts  have  been  much  upon 
that  business  of  late,  so  small  as  the  outward  encouragements 
in  point  of  maintenance  are  ;  and  methinks  I  find  my  heart 
much  inclining  that  way.  I  will  tell  thee  the  priuciuciples 
upon  which  I  go  : 

First,  I  lay  this  for  a  foundation,  That  a  man^s  life  con- 
sisieth  not  in  the  abundance  of  the  things  that  he  possesscth. 
It  was  accounted  a  wise  prayer  that  Agur  put  up  of  old,  that 
he  might  only  be  fed  with  food  convenient  for  him.  And 
certain  it  is,  that  where  men  have  least  of  the  world,  they 
esteem  it  least,  and  live  more  by  faith  and  in  dependence 
upon  God,  casting  their  care  and  burden  upon  him.  0  the 
sweet  breathings  of  David's  soul  !  the  strong  actings  of  his 
faith  and  love,  that  we  find  come  from  him,  when  his  con- 
dition  was  low  and  mean  in  the  world  !  How  closely  doth 
he  cling  !  How  fully  doth  he  rely  upon  God  !  The  Holy 
Ghost  seems  to  make  it  a  privilege  to  be  brought  to  a  neces- 
sity of  living  by  faith,  as,  I  think,  I  have  formerly  hinted  to 
thee,  out  of  Deut.  xi.  10,  11,  where  Canaan  is  preferred  be- 
fore Egypt,  in  regard  to  its  dependence  upon  God  for  the 
former  and  latter  rain,  which  in  Egypt  they  could  live  with- 
out, and  have  supplies  from  the  river.  And  certainly  could 
we,  that  are  unexperienced,  but  feel  the  thorns  of  those  cares 
and  troubles  that  there  are  in  gathering  and  keeping  much, 


140  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  I.) 

and  the  danger  when  riches  increase  of  setting  our  hearts 
upon  them,  we  should  prize  the  happiness  of  a  middle  con- 
dition much  before  it.  Doubtless,  godliness,  with  content- 
ment, is  great  gain.  "  Seekest  thou  great  things  for  thy- 
self?" (saith  the  prophet  to  Baruch)  Seek  them  not.  Cer- 
tainly a  good  conscience  is  a  continual  feast,  and  enough 
for  a  happy  life  :  No  man  that  warreth  entangleth  himself 
with  the  affairs  of  this  life,  that  he  may  please  Him  who 
hath  chosen  him  to  be  a  soldier.  We  should  be  but  little  en- 
cumbered with  the  things  of  this  world,  and  withal  free  from 
a  world  of  entanglements,  which,  in  a  great  place  committed 
wholly  to  our  charge,  would  be  upon  our  consciences  as  no 
small  burden. 

Secondly,  I  take  this  for  an  undoubted  tiuth,  "  That  a 
dram  of  grace  is  better  than  a  talent  of  v\ea!th  :"  and  there- 
fore such  a  place  where  our  consciences  would  be  free,  and 
we  had  little  to  do  in  the  world  to  take  off  our  hearts  and 
thoughts  from  the  things  of  eternity,  and  had  the  advantage 
of  abundance  of  means,  and  the  daily  opportunities  of  warm- 
ing our  hearts  with  the  blessed  society  and  conference  of 
heavenly  christians,  and  no  temptations  to  carry  us  away, 
nor  discouragements  in  our  walking  with  God,  and  the  due 
performance  of  our  duty,  is  (if  we  pass  a  true  and  spiritual 
judgment,  as  the  Holy  Ghost  in  scripture  would)  without 
comparison  before  another  place  void  of  those  spiritual  helps 
and  advantages.  Let  us  think  with  ourselves,  "What 
though  our  purses,  our  estates,  may  thrive  better  in  a  place 
of  a  larger  maintenance  I  Yet  where  are  our  graces,  our 
souls,  like  to  thrive  any  way  answerable  to  what  they  are 
in  this  I"  We  should  have  but  little  in  the  world,  and  we 
could  live  hereafter ;  but  alas !  what  is  this  if  it  be  made  up 
to  us,  as  it  will  surely  be  in  communion  with  God  and  his 
people?  If  we  thrive  in  faith  and  love,  humility  and  hea- 
venly-mindedness,  as  above  all  places  I  know  we  are  likely 
to  do  there,  what  matter  is  it  though  we  do  not  raise  our- 
selves in  the  world?  The  thing!  it  may  well  be  accounted 
but  mean  ;  but  alas !  let  us  look  upon  it  with  a  spiritual  eye, 
and  then  we  shall  pass  another  judgment  of  it.  Oh!  who 
would  leave  so  much  grace,  and  so  much  comfort  in  com- 
munion with  Christ  and  his  saints,  as  we  may  gain  there, 
for  the  probabilities  of  living  with  a  little  more  gentility  and 
handsomeness  in  the  world  ?  It  is  a  strange  thing  to  see 
how  christians  generally  do  judge  so  carnally  of  things,  look- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  141 

ing  to  the  things  that  are  seen  and  temporal,  and  not  the 
things  that  will  stick  by  us  to  eternity.  "  What  is  it  worth 
a-year?  Is  the  maintenance  certain  and  sure?  What  charges 
are  there  like  to  be?"  These  are  the  questions  we  com- 
monly ask  tirst,  when  we  speak  of  settling.  Bat  alas! 
though  those  things  are  duly  to  be  considered  too,  yet 
"What  good  am  I  like  to  do  ;  ^Vhat  good  am  I  like  to 
get  ^"  Both  which  questions,  I  think,  might  be  as  comfort- 
ably answered  concerning  this,  as  any  place  in  England. 
These  should  be  the  main  interrogatories,  and  the  chief 
things  we  should  judge  of  a  place  to  settle  in  by.  What  if 
we  have  but  a  little  in  the  world  !  \N  hy.  then,  we  must 
keep  but  a  short  table,  and  shall  make  but  a  little  noise  in 
the  world,  and  must  give  the  meaner  entertainments  to  our 
friends  O  !  but  will  not  this  be  abundantly  made  up,  if  we 
have  more  outward  and  inward  peace,  as  we  may  well  count 
we  shall  have?  One  dram  of  saving  grace  will  weigh  down 
all  this.  Let  others  hug  themselves  in  their  corn,  and  wine, 
and  oil,  in  their  fat  livings,  and  their  large  tables,  and  their 
great  resort ;  if  we  have  more  of  the  light  of  God's  counte- 
nance, more  grace,  more  comfort,  who  would  change  with 
them  ?  Surely  if  Paul  were  to  choose  a  place,  he  would  not 
look  so  much  what  it  was  a-year,  but  would  wish  us  to  take 
that  where  we  might  be  most  likely  to  save  our  own  and 
others'  souls. 

Thirdly,  "  That  the  best  and  surest  way  to  have  any 
outward  mercy,  is  to  be  content  to  want  it*"  When  men's 
desires  are  over  eager  after  the  world,  they  must  have  thus 
much  a-year,  and  a  house  well  furnished,  and  wife,  and 
children,  thus  and  thus  qualified,  or  else  they  will  not  be 
content  ;  God  doth  usually,  if  not  constantly,  break  their 
wills  by  denying  them,  as  one  would  cross  a  fro  ward  child 
of  his  slubborn  humour;  or  else  puts  a  sting  into  them,  that 
a  man  had  been  as  good  had  he* been  without  them;  as  a 
man  would  give  a  thing  to  a  froppish*  child,  but  it  may  be 
with  a  knock  on  his  fingers,  and  a  frown  to  boot.  The  best 
"way  to  get  riches,  is  out  of  doubt  to  set  them  lowest  in  one's 
desires.  Solomon  found  it  so  :  Also,  he  did  not  ask  rich- 
es, but  wisdom  and  ability  to  discharge  his  great  trust;  but 
God  was  so  pleased  with  his  prayer,  that  he  threw  in  them 
into  the  bargain.     If  we  seek  the  kingdom  of  God  and  his 

*   Peevisti. 
13 


142  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  I.) 

righteousness  in  the  first  place,  and  leave  other  things  to 
him,  God  will  not  stand  with  us  for  these  outwards  ;  though 
we  never  ask  them,  ue  shall  have  them  as  over-measure  ; 
God  will  throw  them  in  as  the  vantaae.  And  to  this  suits 
the  experience  of  our  dear  Honoratius  :  ''  And  indeed" 
(saith  he  speaking  of  God,)  "  Honoratius  finds  that  his  only 
hiding-place  and  refuge,  and  a  place  of  succour,  from  ihe 
storms  that  tall  upon  him,  and  hath  had  such  helps  at  dead- 
lift  there,  that  he  is  engaged  for  ever  to  trust  there.  For 
when  he  hath  been  lowest,  and  in  the  greatest  straits,  he 
hath  gone  and  made  his  moan  heaven-ward,  with  free  sub- 
mission to  the  rightful  disposer  of  all  things,  and  he  hath 
been  so  liberally  supplied,  as  makes  him  very  confident  the 
best  way  to  obtain  any  mercy  or  supply,  is  to  be  content  to 
be  without  it:  And  he  is  persuaded  nothing  sets  God's 
mercies  farther  off,  than  want  of  free  submission  "to  want 
them."  Certainly  God  will  never  be  behindhand  with  us. 
Let  our  care  be  to  build  his  house,  and  let  him  alone  to 
build  ours. 

Fourthly,  "  That  none  ever  was,  or  ever  shall  be,  a  loser 
by  Jesus  (Christ."  Many  have  lost  much  for  him,  but  never 
did,  never  shall  any  lose  by  him. 

Take  this  for  a  certainty,  whatsoever  probabilities  of  out- 
ward comforts  we  leave,  whatsoever  outward  advantages  we 
balk,  that  we  may  glorify  him  in  our  services,  and  enjoy 
him  in  his  ordinances  more  than  otherwise  we  could,  we 
shall  receive  a  hundredfold  in  this  life.  It  is  a  sad  thing  to 
see  how  little  Christ  is  trusted  or  believed  in  the  world. 
Men  will  trust  him  no  farther  than  they  can  see  him,  and 
will  leave  no  work  for  faith.  Alas  !  hath  he  not  a  thousand 
ways,  both  outward  and  inward,  to  make  up  a  little  out- 
ward disadvantage  to  us?  What  doth  our  faith  serve  for? 
Have  any  ventured  themselves  upon  him  in  his  way,  but  he 
made  good  every  word  of  the  promise  to  them  ?  Let  us, 
therefore,  exercise  our  fi\ith,  and  stay  omselves  upon  the 
promise,  and  see  if  ever  we  are  ashamed  of  our  hope. 

Fifihly,  *'  That  what  is  wanting  in  the  means,  God  will 
make:  up  in  the  blessing  :"  This  I  take  for  a  certain  truth, 
^vhile  a  man  commits  himself  and  his  aflTairs  to  God,  and  is 
in  a  way  that  God  put  him  into.  Now,  if  a  man  have  but 
a  little  income,  if  he  have  a  great  blessing,  that's  enough  to, 
make  it  up  Alas  !  we  must  not  account  mercies  by  the 
bulk.     What  if  another  have  a  pound  to  my  ounce,  if  mine 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  143 

be  gold  for  his  silver,  I  will  never  change  with  him.  As  it 
is  not  bread  that  keeps  men  alive,  but  the  word  of  blessing 
that  proceedeth  out  of  the  mouth  of  God  ;  so  it  is  not  the 
largeness  of  the  means,  but  the  blessing  of  the  Lord  that 
maketh  rich.  Oh  !  if  men  did  but  believe  this,  they  would 
not  L'^rasp  so  much  of  the  world  as  they  do.  Well,  let  others 
take  their  course,  and  we  will  take  ours,  to  wait  upon  God 
by  faith  and  prayer,  and  rest  in  his  promise  ;  and  lam 
confident  that  is  the  way  to  be  provided  for.  Let  others 
toil  to  enlaroje  their  income,  (but  alas,  they  will  find  they 
go  not  the  right  way  to  work),  we  will  bless  God  to  enlarge 
our  blessing,  and  I  doubt  not  but  we  shall  prove  the  gainers. 
Sixthly^  "  That  every  condition  hath  its  snares,  crosses, 
and  troubles,  and  therefore  we  may  not  expect  to  be  without 
them  wherever  we  be  ;  only  that  condition  is  most  eligible 
that  hath  fewest  and  least."  1  cannot  object  any  thing 
against  the  proposal  of  Taunton,  but  the  meanness  of  the 
maintenance  ;  but  if  our  income  be  but  short,  we  can,  I 
hope,  be  content  to  live  answerably  ;  we  must  fare  the 
meaner — that  will  be  all  the  inconvenience  that  I  know  ; 
and  truly  I  hope  we  are  not  of  the  nature  of  that  animal 
that  hath  his  heart  in  his  belly.  I  know  how  Daniel  thrived 
by  his  water  and  pulse,  and  think  a  mean  diet  is  as  whole- 
some to  the  body,  yea,  and  far  less  hurtful,  than  a  full  and 
liberal  is  ;  and  persuade  myself  it  would  be  no  such  hard 
matter  for  us  contentedly  to  deny  our  flesh  in  this  respect. 
But  let  us  consider  how  little  and  utterly  inconsiderable  this 
inconvenience  is,  in  comparison  of  those  we  must  reckon 
upon  meeting  with,  if  God  cast  us  into  another  place,  and 
whether  this  be  not  a  great  deal  less  than  the  trouble  we 
shall  have  for  want  of  comfortable  and  christian  society,  for 
want  of  the  frequent  and  quickening  means  we  shall  here 
have,  in  wrangling  and  contending  with  the  covetous,  or 
else  losing  our  dues,  in  the  railings,  and  scandalous  and 
malicious  reports,  that  are,  we  see,  raised  upon  the  best  by 
the  wicked  in  most  places,  in  their  contentions  about  their 
right  to  the  sacraments,  in  our  entanulement  in  the  cares 
and  troubles  of  this  life,  &c.  all  which  we  should  be  here 
exempted  from.  Upon  these  and  the  like  considerations,  I 
find  my  heart  very  much  inclined  to  accept  of  their  offer  at 
Taunton.  I  beseech  thee  to  weish  and  thoroughly  consider 
the  matter,  and  tell  me  impartially  thy  thoughts,  and  which 
way  thy  spirit  inclines,  for  I  have  always  resolved  the  place 


144  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.   II.) 

I  settled  in  should  be  thy  choice,  and  to  thy  content.  The 
least  intimation  of  thy  will  to  the  contrary,  shall  overbalance 
all  my  thoughts  of  settling  there,  for  I  should  account  it 
the  greatest  unhappiness  if  1  should  thus  settle,  and  thou 
shouldst  afterwards  be  discontented  at  the  straitness  of  our 
condition.  But  I  need  not  to  have  written  this  ;  hadst  thou 
not  fully  signified  thy  mind  already  to  me,  I  had  never  gone 
so  far  as  I  have.  AYell,  the  Lord,  whose  we  are,  and  whom 
we  serve,  do  with  us  as  it  shall  seem  good  unto  him  !  We 
are  always  as  mindful  as  is  possible  of  thee  here,  both  to- 
gether and  apart.  Captain  Luke  desired  me  to  entreat  thee 
to  meet  him  one  or  two  hours  in  a  day  for  the  commemora- 
tion of  mercies  upon  the  twenty-third  day  of  every  month. 
Send  word  to  me  of  their  resolution  at  Taunton,  in  two  let- 
ters, lest  possibly  one  should  miscarry,  though  never  a  one 
did  yet.  I  dare  not  think  of  settling  under  sixty  pounds  at 
Taunton,  and  surely  it  cannot  be  less.  I  have  written  as 
well  as  I  could  on  a  sudden  my  mind  to  thee.  I  have  been 
so  large  in  delivering  my  judgment,  that  I  must  thrust  up 
my  affections  into  a  corner.  Well,  though  they  have  but  a 
corner  in  ray  letter,  I  am  sure  they  have  room  enough  in  my 
heart  :  But  I  must  conclude ;  the  Lord  keep  thee,  my 
dear,  for  ever  in  his  bosom.     Farewell,  mine  own  soul  1 

1  am,  as  ever, 

Thine  own  heart, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

OxoN,  21th  May,  1659. 


LETTER  IL 

[Prepare  for  suffering.] 

To  my  dearly  beloved,  the  flock  of  Christ  in  Taunton,  grace 
and  jjeace. 

Most  Dear  Christians, — My  extreme  straits  of  time 
will  now  force  me  to  bind  my  Ions:  loves  in  a  few  short 
lines  ;  yet  I  could  not  tell  how  to  leave  you  unsaluied,  nor 
choose  but  write  to  you  in  a  few  words,  that  you  should  not 
be  dismayed,  either  at  our  present  sufferings,  or  at  the  evil 
tidings  that  by  this  time,  I  doubt  not,  are  come  unto  you. 
]Vow,  brethren,  is  the  time  when  the  Lord  is  like  to  put  you 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  145 

upon  the  trial ;  now  is  the  hour  of  temptation  come.  Oh  ! 
be  taithful  to  Christ  to  the  death,  and  he  shall  give  you  a 
crown  of  life.  Faithful  is  He  that  hath  called  you,  and  he 
will  not  suffer  you  upon  his  faithfulness  to  be  tempted 
above  what  you  are  able.  Give  up  yourselves  and  your  all 
to  the  Lord  with  resolution  to  follow  him  fully  ;  and  two 
things  be  sure  of,  and  lay  wp  as  sure  grounds  of  everlasting 
consolation  ; 

1.  If  [  seek  by  prayer  and  study  to  know  the  mind  of 
God,  and  do  resolve  to  follow  it  in  uprightness,  you  shall  not 
fail  either  of  direction  or  pardon  ;  either  God  will  shew  you 
what  his  pleasure  is,  or  will  certainly  forgive  you  if  you  miss 
your  way.  Brethren,  fix  upon  your  souls  the  deep  and 
lively  affecting  apprehensions  of  the  most  gracious,  loving, 
merciful,  sweet,  compassionate,  tender  nature  of  your  Hea- 
venly Father,  which  is  so  great  that  you  may  be  sure  that 
he  will,  with  all  readiness  and  love,  accept  of  his  poor  chil- 
dren when  they  endeavour  to  approve  themselves  in  sin- 
cerity to  him,  and  would  fain  know  his  mind  and  do  it,  if 
they  could  but  clearly  see  it,  though  they  should  unwillingly 
mistake. 

2.  That  as  sure  as  God  is  faithful,  if  he  do  see  that  such 
or  such  a  temptation  (with  the  forethought  of  which  you 
may  be  apt  to  disquiet  yourselves,  lest  you  should  fall  away 
when  thus  or  thus  tried)  will  be  too  hard  for  your  graces,  he 
will  never  suffer  it  to  come  upon  you.  Let  not,  my  dear 
brethren,  let  not  the  present  tribulation,  or  those  impending, 
move  you.  This  is  the  way  of  the  kingdom  :  Persecution 
is  one  of  your  land-marks:  Self-denial  and  taking  up  the 
cross  is  your  A  B  C  of  reli^iion  ;  you  have  learnt  nothing 
that  have  not  begun  at  Christ's  cross.  Brethren,  the  cross 
of  Christ  is  your  crown  ;  the  reproach  of  Christ  is  your 
riches  ;  the  shame  of  Christ  is  your  orlory  ;  the  damage  at- 
tending strict  and  holy  diligence,  your  greatest  advantage. 
Sensible  you  should  be  of  what  is  coming,  but  not  discour-? 
aged;  humbled,  but  not  dismayed;  having  your  hearts 
broken,  and  yet  your  spirits  unbroken  ;  humble  yourselves 
mightily  under  the  mighty  hand  of  God  ;  l-ut  fear  not  the 
face  of  man  :  may  you  even  be  low  in  humility,  but  high  in 
courage  ;  little  in  your  own  apprehensions  of  yourselves, 
but  great  in  holy  fortitude,  resolution,  and  holy  magnanim- 
ity,  lying  in  the  dust  before  your  God,  yet  triumphing  in 
faith  and  hope,  and  boldness  and   confidence  over  all  the 

13* 


146  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  III.) 

power  of  the  enemies.  Approve  yonrscives  as  good  soldiers 
of  Jesus  Christ,  with  no  armour  but  that  of  riohteousuess  ; 
no  iveapons  but  strong  crying  and  tears  ;  looking  for  no 
victory  but  that  of  faith :  nor  hope  to  overcome  but  by  pa- 
tience. Now  for  the  faith  and  patience  of  the  saints  ! 
Now  for  the  hardness  of  your  suffering  graces  !  O  gird  up 
the  loins  of  your  minds,  and  be  sober,  and  hope  to  the  end! 
Fight  not  but  the  good  fight  of  faith  :  here  you  must  con- 
tend, and  that  earnestly.  Strive  not  but  against  sin,  and 
here  you  may  resist  even  unto  blood :  now  see  that  you 
choose  life,  and  embrace  affliction  rather  than  sin.  Strive 
together  mightily  and  frequently  by  prayer  :  I  know  you  do, 
but  I  would  you  should  abound  more  and  more.  Share  my 
loves  among  you,  and  continue  your  earnest  prayers  for 
me  ;  and  be  you  assured  that  I  am  and  shall  be,  through 
grace,  a  willing  thankful  servant  of  your  soul's  concern- 
ments. 

Joseph  Alleine. 
From  the  Common  Gaol, 
May  28,  16G3. 


LETTER  III. 

[Warning  to  Professors.) 

To  my  most  dearly  beloved,  my  Christian  Friends  in 
Tainiton,  Salvation. 

Most  Loving  Brethren, — I  shall  never  forget  your  old 
kindnesses,  and  the  entire  affections  that  .you  have  shed  upon 
me,  not  by  drops,  but  by  floods  ;  would  I  never  so  fain  for- 
get them,  yet  I  could  not,  they  are  so  continually  renown- 
ed ;  for  there  is  never  a  day  but  I  hear  of  them  ;  nay,  more 
than  hear  of  them,  I  feel  and  taste  them.  The  God  that 
hath  promised  to  thorn  that  give  to  a  prophet  though  but  a 
cup  of  cold  water,  shall  receive  a  prophet's  reward  ; — he 
will  recompense  your  labour  of  love,  your  fervent  prayers, 
and  constant  cries,  your  care  for  my  welfare,  your  bountiful 
supplies,  who  have  given  me,  not  a  cup  of  cold  water,  but 
the  wine  of  your  loves,  with  the  sense  and  tidings  whereof  I 
am  continually  refreshed.     1  must,  I  do,  and  will  bless  the 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  1-17 

Lord  as  long  as  I  live,  that  he  hath  cast  my  lot  in  so  fair  a 
place,  to  dwell  in  your  communion  ;  and  especially  to  go  in 
and  out  before  you,  and  to  be  the  messenger  of  the  Lord  of 
Hoists  to  you,  to  proclaim  his  law,  and  to  preach  his  excel, 
lences,  to  be  his  spokesman  to  you,  and  to  woo  for  hirw,  and 
to  espouse  you  to  one  husband,  and  to  present  you  as  a 
chaste  virgin  unto  Christ.  Lord  !  how  unworthy  am  I,  ever- 
lastingly unworthy  of  this  glorious  dignity,  which  I  do  verily 
believe  the  brightest  angels  in  heaven  would  be  glad  of,  if 
the  Lord  saw  it  fit  to  employ  them  in  this  work  !  Well,  I 
do  not,  I  cannot  repent,  notwithstanding  all  the  difhculties 
and  inconveniencies  that  do  attend  his  despised  servants,  and 
hated  ways,  and  that  are  like  to  attend  them  ;  for  we  have 
but  sipped  yet  of  the  cup  ;  but  I  have  set  my  hand  to  his 
pic  ugh  ;  my  ministry  I  took  up  with  you,  and  my  testimony 
I  finished  with  you,  though  I  thought  I  had  espoused  you 
till  death;  and  when  I  was  entered  into  that  sacred  office, 
which  through  rich  grace  I  was  employed  in,  I  told  you,  in 
the  close  of  what  I  spake  before  the  laying  of  the  holy  hands 
upon  me,  "  Most  gladly  do  I  take  up  this  office  with  all  the 
persecution,  affliction,  difficulties,  tribulation,  and  inconve- 
niencies, that  do  and  may  attend  it."  And,  blessed  be 
God,  I  am,  through  his  goodness,  of  the  same  mind  still, 
and  my  tribulations  for  Christ  do  (to  him  be  glory  !  for  to 
me  belongs  nothing  but  shame  and  confusion  of  face)  con- 
firm my  choice  and  my  resolution  to  serve  him  with  much 
more  than  my  labours.  Verily,  brethren,  it  is  a  good  choice 
that  I  have  commended  to  you  :  Oh  !  that  there  might  not 
be  one  found  among  you  that  hath  not  made  Mary's  choice, 
I  mean  of  that  good  part  which  shall  never  be  taken  away 
from  you.  Brethren,  let  them  take  up  with  the  world  that 
have  no  better  portion  :  be  content  that  they  should  carry 
the  bell,  and  bear  away  the  riches  and  preferments,  and 
glory  and  splendour  of  the  world.  Alas  !  you  have  no  rea- 
son to  envy  them  :  verily  they  have  a  lie  in  their  right 
hand.  Ah  !  how  soon  will  their  hopes  fail  them  !  How 
soon  will  the  crackling  blast  be  out,  and  leave  them  in  eter- 
nal darkness  !  They  shall  go  to  the  generation  of  their 
fathers,  they  shall  never  see  lii?ht,  like  sheep  they  shall  he 
laid  in  their  graves,  and  the  upright  shall  have  dominion 
over  them  in  the  morning.  But  for  my  brethren,  I  am 
jealous  that  none  of  you  should  come  short  of  the  glory  of 
God.     1  am  ambitious  for  you,  that  you  should  be  all   the 


148  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  III.) 

heirs  of  an  endless  life,  the  living  hopes  of  the  saints,  the 
inheritance  incorruptible,  undefiled,  and  that  fades  not 
away. 

Ah!  my  brethren,  why  should  not  you  be  all  happy? 
I  am  jealous  for  you  with  a  godly  jealousy,  lest  a  promise 
being  left  you  of  entering  into  his  rest,  any  of  you  should 
come  short  of  it.  O  look  diligently,  lest  any  man  fail  of  the 
grace  of  God.  Alas !  how  it  pities  me  to  see  this  rest  ne- 
glected !  How  it  grieves  me  that  any  of  you  should  fall 
short  of  mercy  at  last !  that  any  of  that  flock  over  which 
the  Holy  Ghost  hath  made  me  in  part  overseer,  should 
perish  ;  when  Christ  hath  done  so  much  for  you,  and  when 
his  under-officers  (through  his  grace,  for  we  are  not  suffi- 
cient of  ourselves)  have  done  somewhat  to  recover  and  save 
them.  Ah!  dear  brethren,  I  was  in  great  earnest  with  you 
when  I  besought  you  out  of  the  pulpit,  many  a  time,  to  give 
a  bill  of  divorce  to  your  sins,  and  to  accept  of  the  match 
and  the  mercy  that  in  the  name  of  God  Almighty  I  did 
there  offer  to  you.  Alas  !  how  it  pitied  me  to  look  over  so 
great  a  congregation,  and  to  think  that  I  could  not,  for  my 
life  I  could  not,  persude  them,  one  quarter  of  them  in  like- 
lihood, to  be  saved  !  How  it  moved  me  to  see  your  dili- 
gence in  flocking,  not  only  to  the  stated  exercises,  but  to 
the  repetitions,  and  to  most  hazardous  opportunities,  for 
which  you  are  greatly  to  be  commended,  since  the  law  for- 
bade my  public  preaching  ;  and  yet  to  think  that  many  of 
you  that  went  so  far,  were  like  to  perish  for  ever  for  want  of 
going  further!  I  must  praise  your  dili<ient  attendance  on 
all  opportunities.  Blessed  be  God  that  made  a  willing 
ministry  and  a  willing  people  !  For  I  remember  how  I 
have  gone  furnished  with  a  train  !  How  I  went  with  the 
multitude  to  the  House  of  God,  with  the  voice  of  joy  and 
praise,  with  the  multitude  that  kept  holy-days.  The  remem- 
brance of  which  moves  my  soul  ;  but,  O  my  flock,  my  most 
dear  flock,  how  fain  would  I  carry  you  farther  than  the  ex- 
ternal and  outward  profession  !  O  !  how  loih  am  I  to  leave 
you  there!  How  troubled  to  think  that  any  of  you  should 
go  far  and  hazard  much  for  religion,  and  yet  miscarry  for 
ever  by  the  hand  of  some  unmortified  lust ;  as  secret  pride, 
or  untamed  passion,  or  an  unbridled  tongue,  or,  which  I 
fear  most  of  all,  a  predominant  love  of  the  world  in  your 
hearts.  Alas  !  must  it  be  so,  and  is  there  no  remedy  but  I 
must  carry  you  to  heaven's  gate  and  leave  you  there  ?     Oh ! 


THE  KEV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  149 

that  I  should  leave  the  work  of  your  souls  but  half  done  ; 
and  bring  you  no  farther  than  the  almost  of  Christianity  ! 
Hear,  O  my  people,  hear,  nlthough  I  may  command  you, 
upon  your  utmost  peril,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  that 
shall  shortly  judge  you,  I  beseech  you,  I  warn  you  as  a 
father  doth  his  children,  to  look  to  the  settling  and  securing 
of  your  everlasting  condition,  and  for  life  take  heed  of  your 
resting  in  the  outer-part  of  religion  ;  but  to  be  restless  till 
you  find  the  thorough  change  of  regeneration  within,  that 
you  are  quite  new  in  thetVame  and  bent  of  your  hearts  ;  for 
here  is  the  main  of  religion  in  the  hidden  man  of  the  heart. 
For  C'hrist's  sake,  for  your  souls'  sake  look  to  it,  that  you 
build  upon  the  rock,  that  you  be  sure  in  the  foundation 
work,  that  you  do 'unfeignedly  deliver  yourselves  over  to  the 
Lord  to  be  under  his  command  and  at  his  disposal  in  all 
things.  J^ee  that  you  make  no  exceptions,  no  reserve,  that 
you  cast  over-board  all  your  worldly  hopes,  and  count  upon 
parting  with  all  for  Christ  :  that  you  take  him  alone  for  your 
whole  happiness.  Wonder  not  that  I  so  often  inculcate 
this  :  if  it  be  well  here,  it  is  \\  ell  all  ;  if  unsound  he*-e,  the 
error  is  in  the  foundation,  and  you  are  undone.  Brethren, 
I  see  great  trials  coming  on,  when  we  shall  see  professors 
fall  like  leaves  in  the  autumn,  unless  they  be  well  settled  : 
therefore  it  is  that  1  vvouldfain  have  you  look  to  your  stand- 
ing, and  to  secure  the  main.  And  for  yon  whose  souls  are 
soundly  wrought  upon^  O  make  sure  whatever  you  do  ;  get 
and  keep  your  evidences  clear  !  How  dreadful  would  your 
temptations  be,  if  you  should  be  called  to  part  with  all  for 
Christ,  and  not  be  sure  of  him  neither.  Get  a  right  and 
clear  understanding  of  the  terms  of  life,  which  I  have  set 
before  you  in  that  form  of  covenanting  with  God  in  Christ, 
that  I  commended  to  you  !  I  would  that  none  of  you  should 
be  without  a  copy  of  it  Be  much  in  observing  your  own 
hearts,  both  in  duties  and  out-crying  mightily  to  God  for 
assurance.  If  you  cannot  discern  your  estate  yourselves,  go 
to  somebody  that  is  able  and  faithful,  and  fully  open  your 
case,  your  evidences,  and  doubts,  and  be  extraordinary  strict 
and  watchful  in  your  whole  course,  and  I  doubt  not  but  you 
will  quickly  grow  up  to  assurance. 

I  cannot  tell  how  to  make  an  end,  methinks  I  could  write 
all  the  day  to  you,  but  my  straits  of  time  are  great,  and  my 
letter  already  too  long,  yet  I  cannot  conclude  till  I  have 
given  you  my  unfeigned  thanks  for  your  most  kind  and  gra- 


150  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   IV.) 

cious  letter.  Surely  it  shall  be  in  store  with  me,  and  laid 
up  among  my  treasures.  That  God  is  pleased  so  to  unite 
your  hearts  to  me.  and  to  make  use  of  nie  for  your  edifica- 
tion, is  matter  of  highest  joy  unto  me  ;  as  also  to  see  your 
stedfastness  in  Christ,  your  unshaken  resolutions  notwith- 
standing all  the  tempter's  wiles.  G:>  on,  my  dearly  beloved, 
and  the  Lord  strengthen  your  hands  and  your  hearts,  and 
lift  you  up  above  the  fears  of  men.  My  most  dear  brother 
Norman  salutes  you  with  manifold  loves  and  respects,  ear- 
nestly wishing  that  you  may  wear  the  crown  of  perseverance  ; 
as  also  brother  Turner.  The  Lord  strengthen,  establish, 
settle  you,  and  after  you  have  suffered  a  while,  make  you 
perfect.  I  leave  my  brethren  in  the  everlasting  arms  ;  and 
rest, 

Your  Ambassador  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Common  Gaol  at  .Tuelchester, 
I'Stk  June,  1GG3. 


LETTER  IV. 

[A  call  lo  the  Unconverted.] 

To  the  beloved  people,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton  ^ 
grace,  mercy  and  peace,  from  God  our  Father,  and  from 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Most  endeared  and  beloved  Friends, — I  do  most  read- 
ily acknowledge  myself  a  debtor  to  you  all,  and  a  servant 
of  all,  and  therefore  I  have  sent  these  few  lines  to  salute  you 
all.  My  lines  did  fall  in  a  fair  place,  when  the  Lord  did 
cast  my  lot  among  you  ;  for  which  I  desire  to  be  thankful. 
God  hath  been  pleased  to  work  a  mutual  affection  between 
me  and  you.  I  remember  the  tears  and  prayers  that  you 
have  sent  me  hither  with,  and  how  I  saw  your  hearts  in 
your  eyes.  How  can  I  forget  how  you  poured  out  your 
souls  upon  me?  And,  truly,  you  are  a  people  much  upon 
my  heart,  whose  welfare  is  the  matter  of  my  continual 
prayers,  care,  and  study.  And  Oh!  that  I  knew  how  to 
do  you  good.     Ah  !  how  certainly  should  never  a  son  of  you 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  151 

miscarry,  if  I  knew  that  to  save  you.  Ah !  how  it  pities 
me  to  think  how  so  many  of  you  should  remain  in  your  sins, 
after  so  many  and  so  long  endeavours  to  convert  and  brin<T 
them  in.  Once  more,  Oh  !  my  beloved,  once  more  hear  the 
call  of  the  Most  High  God  unto  you.  The  prison  preaches 
to  you  the  same  doctrine  that  the  pulpit  did.  Hear,  O  peo- 
ple, hear;  he  that  hath  an  ear  let  him  hear.  The  Lord  of 
life  and  glory  offers  you  all  mercy,  and  peace,  and  blessed- 
ness. Oh,  why  should  you  diet  Whosoever  will,  let  him 
take  of  the  waters  of  life  freely.  What !  miss  of  life  when 
it  is  to  be  had  for  the  taking  1  God  forbid  !  O  my  brethren, 
my  soul  yearns  for  you,  and  my  bowels  towards  you.  Ah  ! 
that  I  did  but  know  what  arguments  to  use  with  you  ;  who 
shall  choose  my  words  for  me  that  I  may  prevail  with  sin- 
ners not  to  reject  their  own  mercy  ?  How  shall  I  get  with- 
in them  ?  How  shall  I  reach  them  ?  Oh  !  that  1  did  but 
know  the  words  that  would  pierce  them  !  That  I  could  but 
get  between  their  sins  and  them.  Beloved  brethren,  the 
Lord  Jesus  hath  made  me,  most  unworthy,  his  spokesman, 
to  bespeak  your  hearts  for  him  ;  and  oh,  that  1  knew  but 
how  to  woo  for  hirn.  that  I  might  prevail  !  1  hese  eight 
years  have  I  been  calling,  and  yet  how  great  a  part  do  re- 
main visibly  in  their  sins;  and  how  few,  alas  !  how  few 
souls  have  I  gained  to  Christ  by  sound  conversion  I  Once 
more  I  desire  with  all  possible  earnestness  to  apply  myself 
to  you.  I  have  thought,  it  may  be  a  sermon  out  of  a  prison 
might  do  that  which  I  could  not  do  after  my  long  striving 
with  you,  but  have  left  undone  ;  come  then,  O  friends,  and 
let  us  reason  together. 

Many  among  you  remain  under  the  power  of  ignorance. 
Ah  !  how  often  have  I  told  you  the  dangerous,  yea,  damua- 
ble  estate  that  such  are  in.  Never  make  excuses,  nor  flat- 
ter  yourselves  that  you  shall  be  saved  though  you  go  on  in 
this  :  1  have  told  you  often,  and  now  tell  you  again,  "  God 
must  be  false  of  his  word,  if  ever  you  be  saved  without 
being  brought  out  of  the  state  of  ignorance.  If  ever  you 
enter  in  at  the  door  of  Heaven,  it  must  be  by  the  key  of 
knowledge  ;  you  cannot  be  saved,  except  you  be  brouiiht  to 
the  knowledge  of  the  truth."  A  people  that  remain  in  gross 
ignorance,  that  are  without  understanding,  the  Lord  that 
made  them  will  not  have  mercy  on  them.  O  why  will  you 
flatter  yourselves,  and  wilfully  deceive  your  own  selves,  when 
the  God  of  truth  hath  said,  you  shall  surely  die  if  you  go  on 


152  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.    IV.) 

in  this  estate?  Oh,  for  the  love  of  God  and  of  your  souls, 
I  beseech  you  awake  and  bestir  yourselves  to  get  the  saving 
knowledge  of  God  ;  you  that  are  capable  of  learning  a  trade 
to  live  by,  are  you  not  capable  of  learning  the  way  to  be 
saved?  Yea,  I  doubt  not  but  you  are  capable,  if  you  would 
but  beat  your  heads  about  it,  and  take  pains  to  get  it.  And 
is  it  not  pity  that  you  should  perish  for  ever  for  want  of  a 
little  pains,  and  study  and  care,  to  get  the  knowledge  of  God  ? 
Study  the  catechism;  if  possible,  get  it  by  heart;  if  not, 
read  it  often,  or  get  it  read  to  you  ;  cry  unto  God  for  know- 
ledge ;  improve  the  little  you  have  by  living  answerable. 
Search  the  Scriptures  daily,  get  them  read  to  you  if  you  can- 
not read  them.  Improve  your  Sabbaths  diligently,  and  I 
doubt  not  but  in  the  use  of  these  means  you  will  sooner  ar- 
rive to  the  knowledge  of  Christ  than  of  a  trade.  But  for 
thee,  0  hardened  sinner,  that  wilt  make  thy  excuses,  that 
thou  hast  not  time  nor  abilities  to  get  knowledge  ;  and  to  sit 
still  without  it,  I  pronounce  unto  thee  that  thou  shalt  surely 
perish.  And  I  challenge  thee  to  tell  me,  if  thou  canst,  how 
thou  wilt  answer  it  before  the  Most  High  God,  when  he  shall 
sit  in  judgment  upon  thee,  that  thou  wouldst  be  contented 
to  undergo  a  seven  years'  apprenticeship  to  learn  how  to  get 
thy  living,  and  that  thou  mightest  have  got  the  knowledge  of 
the  principles  of  religion  in  half  the  time,  but  thou  wouldst 
not  beat  thy  head  about  it. 

Many  are  swallowed  up  in  mere  profaneness.  Alas  !  that 
there  should  be  any  such  in  a  place  of  such  means  and  mer- 
cies !  But  it  cannot  be  concealedr  Many  of  them  proclaim 
their  sin  like  Sodom,  and  carry  their  deadly  leprosy  in  their 
foreheads.  I  am  ashamed  to  think,  that  in  Taunton  there 
should  be  so  many  alehouse  haunters  and  tipplers,  so  many 
lewd  gamesters  and  rioters,  and  debauched  livers  ;  so  many 
black-mouthed  swearers,  who  have  oaths  and  curses  for  their 
common  language,  so  many  railers  at  godliness,  and  profane 
scoflcrs,  so  many  liars  and  deceitful  dealers,  and  unclean  and 
wanton  wretches.  0  what  a  long  list  will  these  and  such 
like  make  up,  if  put  together  ;  it  saddens  me  to  mention 
such  as  these.  O  how  crimson  is  their  guilt !  How  often 
have  you  been  warned,  and  yet  are  still  unreformed,  yea 
loose  and  profane.  Yet  one  warning  more  have  I  sent  after 
you  from  the  Lord,  to  repent.  Return,  O  sinners.  What ! 
will  you  run  into  everlasting  burnings  with  your  eyes  open  1 

Repent,  0  drunkards,  or  else  you  shall  be  shut  out  of  the 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  163 

kingdom  of  heaven.  (1  Cor.  vi  9,  10.)  Repent,  O  swearers, 
else  you  shall  tall  into  condemnation.  (James  v.  12.)  Re- 
pent,  O  liars,  put  away  lying,  and  speak  every  one  truth  to 
his  neighbour;  else  you  shall  have  your  part  in  the  lake  that 
burneth  with   fire  and  brimstone.     (Rev.  xx.  8.)     Repent, 

0  company-keepers,  forsake  the  foolish  and  live  ;  but  a 
companion  of  the  wicked  shall  be  destroyed.  (Prov.  xiii. 
20.  j  Repent,  you  deceivers,  of  your  unrighteous  dealings, 
or  else  you  shall  have  no  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  God. 
(1  Cor.  vi.  9.  lU.)  The  Lord  that  made  us,  knows  my 
earnest  desire  for  your  conversion  and  salvation  ;  and  that 

1  speak  not  this  to  you  out  of  any  evil  will  towards  yuu,  for 
I  would  lie  at  your  feet  to  do  you  good,  but  out  of  a  sense  of 
your  deplorable  estate  while  you  remain  in  your  sins.  I  know 
there  is  mercy  for  you  if  you  do  soundly  repent  and  reform, 
and  bow  to  the  righteousness  and  government  of  the  Lord 
Christ.  But  if  you  go  on  and  say,  you  shall  yet  have  peace, 
I  pronounce  unto  you  that  there  is  no  escape,  but  the  Lord 
will  make  his  wrath  to  smoke  against  you,  he  will  wound 
the  head  of  his  enemies,  and  the  hairy  scalp  of  such  an 
one  as  goeth  on  still  in  his  trespasses. 

Others  have  escaped  the  gross  pollutions  of  the  world,  but 
stick  in  the  form  of  godliness,  and  content  themselves  with 
a  negative  righteousness,  that  they  are  no  drunkards,  nor 
swearers,  &c.,  or  at  best  with  an  outward  conformity  to  the 
duties  of  religion,  or  some  common  workings,  instead  of  a 
saving.  O  I  am  jealous  for  you  that  you  should  not  lose  the 
things  that  you  have  wrought,  and  miss  your  reward  for 
want  of  sincerity  ;  for  the  Lord's  sake  put  on,  and  beware  of 
perishing  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city  of  refuge.  Beg  of  God 
to  make  th  >rough-work  with  you,  and  be  jealous  for  your- 
selves ;  get  a  rich  understanding  of  the  difference  between 
a  hypocrite  and  a  sincere  christian,  and  try  your  estates 
much,  but  only  with  those  marks,  that  you  are  sure  from 
the  scripture  will  abide  God's  trial. 

But  tor  you  that  fear  the  Lord  in  sincerity,  I  have  nothing 
but  good  and  comfortable  words.  I  have  proclaimed  your 
happiness  in  the  last  token  I  sent  to  the  town.  I  mean  the 
abstract  of  the  covenant  of  grace,  upon  the  privileges,  com- 
forts, mercies,  there  summed  up,  and  set  before  you.  May 
your  souls  ever  live!  What  condition  can  you  devise 
wherein  there  will  not  be  abundance  of  comfort,  and  matter 
of  joy   unspeakable  to  you  ?     O  beloved,  know  your  own 

14 


164  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  V.) 

happiness,  and  live  iu  that  holy  admiring,  commending, 
adoring,  praising  of  your  gracious  God,  that  becomes  the 
people  ot  his  praise.  1  have  been  long,  yet  methinks  I  have 
not  emptied  half  my  heart  unto  you.  1  trespass  much,  I 
fear,  upon  the  bearer  ;  therefore  in  haste  I  commend  you  to 
God.  The  good-will  of  Him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush  be  with 
you  all !  The  Lord  create  a  defence  upon  you,  and  deliver- 
ance for  you  !  The  Lord  cover  you  all  the  day,  and  make 
you  to  dwell  between  his  shoulders  !  I  desire  your  constant, 
instant,  earnest  prayers  for  me ;  and  rest, 

A  willing  labourer,  and  thankful  sufterer  for  you, 

JoSEFH    AlLEINE. 

From  the  Common  Gaol  in  Juelchester, 
it/i  July,  1663. 


LETTER  V. 

[Trust  in  Gud,  and  be  sincere.] 

To  my  most  endeared  friends ,  the  servants  of  Christ  in 
Taunton,  grace  and  peace,. 

Most  DE^RLY-BKLOVED  AND  Longed-for,  my  Joy  and 
Crown, — My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  to  God  for  you  is, 
that  you  may  be  saved.  I  know  that  you  are  the  butt  of 
men's  rage  and  malice  ;  but  you  may  satisfy  yourselves  as 
David  in  his  patient  sustaining  of  Shimei's  fury  and  curses. 
It  may  be  the  Lord  will  look  upon  our  affliction,  and  requite 
good  for  their  cursing  this  day.  But  however  it  be  for  that, 
be  sure  to  hold  on  your  way  ;  your  name  indeed  is  cast  forth 
as  evil,  and  you  are  hated  of  all  men  for  Christ's  sake,  for 
your  profession  of  his  gospel,  and  cleaving  to  his  ways  and 
servants.  But  let  not  this  discourage  you,  for  you  are  now 
more  than  ever  blessed  ;  only  hold  fast,  that  no  man  take 
yoiu-  crown.  Let  not  any  that  have  begun  in  the  Spirit  end 
in  the  flesh.  Do  not  forsake  God,  till  he  forsake  you.  He 
that  endureth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved.  The  promise  is  to 
him  that  overcometh  ;  therefore  think  not  of  looking  back. 
Now  you  have  set  your  hands  to  Christ's  plough,  though 
you  labour  hard   and  suffer   long,  the  crop  will  pay  for  all. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  165 

Now  the  Lord  is  trying  what  credit  he  hath  in  the  world, 
and  who  they  be  that  will  trust  him.  The  unbelieving 
world  are  all  for  present  pay  ;  they  must  have  ready  money, 
something  in  hand,  and  will  not  follow  the  Lord  when  there 
is  like  to  be  any  great  hazard  and  hardship  in  his  service. 
But  now  is  the  time  for  you,  my  beloved,  to  prove  yourselves 
believers,  when  there  is  nothing  visible  but  present  hazard 
and  expense,  and  difficulty  in  your  Maker's  service.  Now 
it  will  be  seen  who  can  trust  the  Lord,  and  who  trusts  him 
not.  Now,  my  brethren,  bear  you  up,  stand  fast  in  the 
faith,  quit  you  like  men,  be  strong.  Now  give  glory  to  God 
by  believing.  If  you  can  trust  in  his  promises  for  your  re- 
ward now,  when  nothing  appears  but  the  displeasure  of 
rulers,  and  bonds,  and  losses,  and  tribulation  on  every  side, 
this  will  be  somewhat  like  believers.  Brethren,  I  beseech 
you  to  reckon  upon  no  other  but  crosses  here.  Let  none  of 
you  dream  of  an  earthly  paradise,  or  flatter  yourselves  with 
dreams  of  sleeping  in  your  ease,  and  temporal  prosperity, 
and  carrying  heaven  too.  Think  not  to  keep  your  estates, 
and  liberties,  and  consciences  too.  Count  not  upon  rest  till 
you  come  to  the  land  of  promise.  Not  that  I  would  have 
any  of  you  to  run  upon  hazards  uncalled.  No,  we  shall 
meet  them  soon  enough  in  the  way  of  our  duty,  without  we 
will  balk  it,  and  shamefully  turn  aside.  But  I  would  have  you 
cast  overboard  your  worldly  hopes,  and  count  not  upon  an 
earthly  felicity,  but  be  content  to  wait  till  you  come  on  the 
other  side  of  the  grave.  Is  it  not  enough  to  have  a  whole 
eternity  of  happiness  yet  behind  ?  If  God  do  throw  in  the 
comforts  of  this  life  too  in  the  bargain,  I  would  not  have  you 
throw  them  back  again,  or  despise  the  goodness  of  the  Lord. 
But  I  would,  my  brethren,  that  you  should  use  this  world 
as  not  abusing  it ;  that  you  should  be  crucified  to  the  world, 
and  the  world  to  you  ;  that  you  should  declare  plainly  that 
you  seek  a  country,  a  better  country,  which  is  a  heavenly. 
Ah!  ray  dear  brethren,  I  beseech  you  carry  it  like  pilgrims 
and  strangers  ;  I  beseech  you  abstain  from  fleshly  lusts, 
which  war  against  your  souls.  For  what  have  we  to  do 
with  the  customs,  and  courses,  and  fashions  of  this  world, 
who  are  strangers  in  it?  Be  contented  with  travellers'  lots  ; 
know  you  not  that  you  are  in  a  strange  land  1  All  is  well 
as  long  as  it  is  well  at  home;  I  pray  you,  brethren,  daily 
and  frequently  to  consider  your  condition  and  station.  Do 
you  not  remember  that  you  are  in   an  inn?     And  what. 


156  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  V.) 

though  you  be  but  poorly  attended,  and  meanly  accommo- 
dated ;  though  you  tare  hard,  and  lie  hard  ; — Is  this  a 
strange  thing  1  What  should  travellers  look  for  else  ?  Will 
you  set  Ibrth  in  a  journey,  and  promise  yourselves  nothing 
but  fair  way  and  lair  weather  ?  Shall  a  man  put  forth  to 
sea  and  reckon  upon  nothinir  but  the  calm!  If  you  were  of 
the  world,  the  world  would  love  his  own.  But  now  God 
hath  chosen  you,  and  called  you  out  of  the  world,  therefore 
the  world  hateth  you.  But  remember,  my  brethren,  it  is 
your  duty  to  love  them,  even  while  they  hate  you  ;  and  to 
pray  for  mercy  for  them  that  will  shew  no  mercy,  nor  do  any 
justice  for  us.  This  I  desire  you  to  observe  as  a  great  duty 
of  the  present  times.  And  let  not  any  so  far  forget  their 
duty  and  pattern,  as  to  wish  evil  to  them  that  do  evil  to  us, 
or  to  please  themselves  with  the  thoughts  of  being  even  with 
them.  Let  us  commit  ourselves  to  Him  that  judgeth  right- 
eously, and  shew  ourselves  the  children  of  the  Most  High, 
uho  doth  good  to  his  enemies,  and  is  kind  to  the  unkind  and 
unthankful.  And  what  though  they  do  hate  us?  Their 
love  and  good -will  were  much  more  to  be  feared  than  their 
hatred,  and  a  far  worse  sign.  Brethren,  keep  yourselves  in 
the  love  of  God  ;  here  is  wisdom.  O  happy  souls,  that  are 
his  favourites  !  For  the  Lord's  sake  look  to  this,  make  sure 
of  something  ;  look  to  your  sincerity  above  all  things  in  the 
world  ;  let  not  any  of  you  conclude,  that  because  you  are  of 
the  suffering  party,  therefore  all  is  well.  Look  to  the  founda- 
tion, that  your  hearts  be  soundly  taken  off  from  every  sin,  and 
set  upon  God  above  as  your  blessedness.  Beware  that  none 
of  you  have  only  a  name  to  live,  and  be  no  more  than  almost 
christians.  For  the  love  of  your  souls,  make  a  diligent 
search,  and  try  upon  what  ground  you  stand  ;  for  it  heartily 
pities  me  to  think  that  any  of  you  should  be  in  so  deep,  and 
hazard  so  much,  as  these  must  do  that  will  not  cleave  to  the 
hated  ways  of  the  people  of  God,  and  yet  lose  all  at  last  for 
want  of  being  thorough  and  sound  in  the  main  work,  I  mean 
in  conversion  and  regeneration.  None  so  miserable  in  all 
the  world  as  an  unsound  professor  of  religion  now  is  ;  for  he 
shall  be  hated  and  persecuted  of  the  \\  orld,  because  he  takes 
up  a  profession,  and  yet  rejected  of  G  od  too,  because  he  sticks 
in  a  profession.  But  when  once  you  bear  the  marks  of  God's 
favour,  you  need  not  fear  the  world's  frowns.  Cheer  up, 
therefore,  brethren,  be  strong  in  the  Lord,  and  of  good 
courage  under  the  world's  usage.     Fear  not,  in  our  Father's 


THE   REV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE. 


157 


house  there  is  hread  enough  and  room  enough  ;  this  is  sufn- 
cieiit  to  comfort  us  under  all  the  inconveniences  of  the  way, 
that  we  have  so  happy  a  home,  so  worthy  a  portion,  so  ready 
a  Father,  so  goodly  a  heritage,  so  sure  a  tenure.  Oh,  com- 
fort one  another  with  these  words.  Let  God  see  that  you 
can  trust  in  his  word ;  let  the  world  see  that  you  can  live 
upon  a  God.  I  shall  share  my  prayers  and  loves  among  you 
all,  and  commit  you  to  the  Almighty  God.  The  Keeper  of 
Israel  that  never  slumbereth  nor  sleepeth,  be  your  watchmaa 
and  keeper  to  the  end  !  Farewell. 
I  am, 

A  fervent  well-wisher 

of  your  temporal  and  eternal  happiness, 
Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Common  Gaol  at  Juelchester^ 
2it/i  July,  1.633. 


LETTER  YL 

[Look  out  of  your  Graves  upon  the  World.] 

To  my  most  dearly  beloved  Friends^  the  chosen  oj  God  in 
Taunton,  grace  and  -peace. 

Most  endeared  Christians, — My  heart  is  with  you, 
though  I  am  absent  as  to  my  bodily  presence  from  you,  and 
therefore  as  I  have  often  already,  so  I  have  now  written 
to  you  to  stir  up  your  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance, 
and  to  call  upon  you  for  your  stedfast  continuing,  and 
vigorous  proceeding,  in  the  ways  of  God.  Dear  friends,  and 
fellow  soldiers  under  (>hrist  the  Captain  of  our  salvation, 
consider  your  calling  and  station,  and  approve  yourselves  as 
good  soldiers  of  Jesus  Christ,  as  men  of  resolution  and 
courage,  be  discouraged  with  no  difficulties  of  your  present 
warfare.  As  for  human  aflairs,  I  would  have  you  to  be,  as 
you  are,  men  of  peace.  I  would  have  you  armed,  not  for 
resisting,  (God  forbid  !)  but  for  suffering  only,  as  the  Apos- 
tle hints  :  You  should  resist,  even  to  the  uttermost,  striving 
against  sin.  Here  you  must  give  no  quarter,  for  if  you 
spare  but  one  Agag,  the  life  of  your  souls  must  go  for  the 
life  of  your  sins.  You  must  make  no  peace,  for  God  will 
not   smile  on  that  soul  that  smiles  on  sin,  nor  have   any 

14* 


158  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    OF  (lET.  VI.) 

peace  with   him  that   is  at  peace  with   his  enemy.     Other 
enemies  you  must  forgive,  and  love,  and  pray  for  (which  I 
desire  you  to  mind  as  one  special   duty  of  the  times)  ;  but 
for  these  spiritual   enemies,  all  your  affections  and  all  your 
prayers  must  be  engaged  against  them  ;  yea,  you  must  ad- 
mit no  parley  :     It  is  dangerous  to  dispute  with  temptations. 
Kemember  what  Eve  lost   by  parleying  with  Satan  :     You 
must  fly  from   temptations,  and  put  them  off  at  first  with  a 
peremptory    denial.      If  you    will  but   hear  the    devil's   ar- 
guments and   the  flesh's  pleas   and  fair   pretences,  it  is  a 
hundred  to  one  that  you  are  ensnared  by  his  sophistry.     And 
for  this   present  evil   world,  the   Lord  deliver  you  from  its 
snares.     Surely  you  had  need  watch  and  be  sober,  and  use 
your  spiritual    weapons   dexterously  and   diligently,  or  else 
this  world  is  like  to  undo  you,  and  destroy  you.      I  have  of^ 
ten  warned  you  not  to  build    upon    an    external  happiness, 
and  that  you   should  promise  yourselves  nothing  but  hard- 
ship here.      Oh  still   remember  your  station  :   soldiers  must 
not  count  upon  rest  and  fulness,  but  hunger  and  hardness. 
Labour  to  get  right  apprehensions   of  the  world.     Do  not 
think  these  things  necessary  ;   one  thing  is  needful :     You 
may  be  happy  in  the  wani  of  all  outward  comforts.     Do  not 
think   yourselves   undone,  if  brought  to  want  or   poverty  : 
Study  eternity,  and  you  will  see  it  to  be  little  material  to  you, 
whether  you  are  poor  or  rich :  and  that  you  may  never  have 
such  an  opportunity  for  your  advantage  in  all  your  lives,  as 
when  you  put  all  to  hazard,  and  seem  to  run  the  vessel  upon 
the  rocks.     Set  your  enemies  one  against  the  other;   death 
against  the  world  ;   no  such  way  to  get  above   the  world,  as 
to  put  yourselves  into  the  possession  of  death.     Look  often 
upon  your  dust  that  you  shall  be  reduced  to,  and  imagine  you 
saw  your  bones  tumbled  out  of  your  graves  as  they  are  like 
shortly  to  be,  and  men  handling  your  skulls,  and  inquiring 
*'  Whose  is  this  ?"     Tell  me  oi'  what  account  will  the  world 
be  then  ;   what  good   will  it  do  you?     Put  yourselves  often 
into  your  L-raves,  and  look  out  from  thence  upon  the  world, 
and  see  what  judgment  you  have  of  if  then.     Must  i-ot  you 
be  shortly  forgot  among  the  dead  ?     Your  places  will  know 
you  no  more,  and  your  memory  will  be  no  more  among  men, 
and   then   what  will  it  profit  you  to  have    lived   in   fashion 
and  repute,  and  to  have  been  men  of  esteem  ?     "One  seri- 
ous walk  over  a  church-yard,"  as  one  speaks,    "might  make 
a  man  mortified  to  the  world."     Think  upon  how  many  you 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  1  59 

tread,  but  you  know  them  not.  No  doubt  they  had  their  great 
estates,  their  Iriends,  their  trades,  their  businesses,  and  kept 
as  much  stir  in  the  world  as  others  do  now.  But  alas, 
what  are  they  the  better  for  any,  for  all  this  ?  Know  you 
not  that  this  must  be  your  own  case  very  shortly  ?  Oh  the 
happiness  of  deceived  man  !  How  miserably  he  is  bewitch- 
ed, and  befooled,  that  he  should  expend  himself  ior  that 
which  he  knows  shall  forever  leave  him  !  Brethren,  I  be- 
seech you,  lay  no  stress  upon  these  perishing  things,  but 
labour  to  be  at  a  holy  indifference  about  them.  It  is  for 
one  that  is  in  his  wits  to  sell  his  God,  his  conscience,  his 
soul,  for  things  that  he  is  not  sure  to  keep  a  week,  nor  a 
day;  and  which  he  is  sure,  after  a  few  sleepings  more,  to 
leave  behind  him  for  ever?  Go  and  talk  with  dying  men, 
and  see  what  apprehensions  they  have  of  the  world  :  If 
any  should  come  to  such  as  these,  and  tell  them,  "Here  is 
such  and  such  preferments  for  you,  you  shall  have  such 
titles  of  honour  and  delights,  if  you  will  now  disown  relig- 
ion, or  subscribe  to  iniquity  ;"  Do  you  think  such  a  mo- 
tion would  be  embraced  I  Brethren,  why  should  we  not  be 
wise  in  time?  Why  should  we  not  now  be  of  the  mind  of 
which  we  know  we  shall  be  all  shortly  ?  Woe  to  them  that 
will  not  be  wise  till  it  be  to  no  purpose  !  Woe  to  them 
whose  eyes  nothing  but  death  and  judgment  will  open  ! 
Woe  to  them  that,  though  they  have  been  warned  by  others, 
and  have  heard  the  world's  greatest  darlings  in  death  to  cry 
out  of  its  vanity,  worthlessness  and  deceitfulness,  and  have 
been  told  where  and  how  it  would  leave  them,  yet  would  take 
no  warning,  but  only  must  serve  themselves  to  be  for  warn- 
ings to  others  !  Ah,  my  beloved,  beware  there  be  no  worldly 
professors  among  you,  that  will  part  rather  with  their  part 
in  Paradise  than  their  part  in  Paris  ;  that  will  rather  part 
with  their  consciences  than  with  their  estates  ;  that  have 
secret  reserves  in  heart  to  save  themselves  vhole,  when  it 
comes  to  the  pinch  ;  and  not  to  be  of  the  religion  that  will 
undo  them  in  the  world.  Beware  that  none  of  you  have 
your  hearts  where  your  feet  should  be,  and  love  your  Mam- 
mon before  your  Maker.  It  is  time  for  you  to  learn,  with 
Paul,  to  be  crucified  to  the  world. 

But  it  is  time  for  me  to  remember  that  'tis  a  letter,  and 
to  contain  myself  within  my  limits.  The  God  of  all  grace 
stablish,  strengthen,  and  settle  you  in  these  shaking  times, 
and  raise  your  hearts  above  the  fears  of  the  world's  threats. 


160  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   VII.) 

and  above  the  ambition  of  its  favours.  My  dearest  loves  to 
you  all,  with  my  fervent  desire  of  your  prayers.  May  the 
Lord  of  Hosts  be  with  you,  and  the  God  of  Jacob  your  re- 
fuge !  Farewell,  my  dear  brethren,  farewell,  and  be  strong 
in  the  Lord.     I  am, 

Yours  to  serve  you  in  the  gospel, 

whether  by  doing  or  suffering, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
From  the  Common  Gaol  at  Juklchester, 
^ist  June  ,1663. 


LETTER  VIL 

[First,  Christian  Marks  :  Second,  Duties.] 

To  the  beloved,  my  most  endearing   and  endeared   Friends, 
the  Flock  of  Christ  in  Taunton,  Salvation. 

Most  Dearly-beloved  and  Longed-for,  my  Joy  and 
Crown, — I  must  say  of  you  as  David  did  of  Jonathan, 
"  Very  pleasant  have  you  been  unto  me,  and  your  love  to  me 
is  wonderful."  And  as  I  have  formerly  taken  great  content  in 
that  my  lot  was  cast  among  you,  so  through  grace  I  rejoice 
in  my  present  lot,  though  [  am  called  to  approve  my  love  to 
you  by  suffering  for  you  ;  for  you,  I  say.  For  you  know 
that  I  have  not  sought  yours  but  you  :  and  that  for  doing 
my  duty  to  your  souls,  I  am  here  in  these  bonds,  which  I 
do  cheerfully  accept  through  the  grace  of  God  that  strength- 
eneth  me.  Oh  !  that  your  souls  might  be  quickened  and 
enlarged  by  these  my  bonds  !  That  your  hands  might  be 
strengthened,  and  your  hearts  encouraged  in  the  Lord  your 
God  by  our  sufferings !  See  to  it,  my  dearly  beloved,  that 
you  stand  fast  in  the  power  of  the  holy  doctrine  which  we 
have  preached  from  the  pulpit ;  preached  at  the  bar  ;  preached 
from  the  prison  to  you.  It  is  a  gospel  worth  the  suffering 
for:  See  that  you  follow  after  holiness,  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  God.  Oh  !  the  madness  of  the  blind  world, 
that  they  should  put  from  them  the  only  plank  upon  which 
they  can  escape  to  heaven.  Surely  the  enemies  of  holiness 
are  their  own  enemies.  Alas  for  them  !  They  know  not 
what  they  do.     What  would  not  these  foolish  virgins  do  at 


THE    REV.   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  IGl 

last,  when  it  is  too  late,  for  a  little  of  the  oil  of  the  wise? 
Oh,  for  one  dram  of  that  grace  which  they  ha\e  scorned  and 
despised!  But  let  not  uny  ofyou,  my  dear  people,  be  wise 
too  late  :  Look  di!ii>ently  lest  any  n'.an  lail  of  the  grace  of 
God.  Beware  that  none  of  you  he  cheated  through  the  sub- 
tlety of  Satan  and  deceitf"ulness  of  your  hearts  wiih  counter- 
feit grace.  There  is  never  a  grace  but  hath  its  counterfeit: 
And  there  is  nothing  in  all  the  world  that  is  more  common 
or  more  easy,  than  to  mistake  common  and  counterfeit 
grace  for  true  and  saving;  and  remember,  your  are  undone 
for  evermore  if  you  should  die  in  such  a  mistake.  Not  that 
I  would  shake  the  confidence  of  any  sound  believer,  who  up- 
on often  and  thorough  search  into  the  scripture  and  his  own 
heart,  and  putting  himself  upon  God's  trial,  hath  gotten  good 
evidence  that  his  graces  are  of  the  right  kind  :  Build  your 
confidence  sure.  See  that  you  get  the  knowledge  of  the 
certain  and  infallible  marks  of  salvation  ;  and  n  ake  sure,  by 
great  observing  your  own  hearts,  that  these  marks  be  inyou, 
and  then  you  cannot  be  too  confident.  But,  as  you  love 
your  souls,  take  heed  of  a  groundless  confidence.  Take  heed 
of  being  confident  before  you  have  tried.  Dear  brethren,  I 
would  fain  have  you  all  secured  against  the  day  of  judiiment ; 
I  would  that  the  states  of  your  souls  were  all  well  settled. 
Oh  how  comfortably  might  you  think  of  any  troubles,  if  you 
were  but  sure  of  your  pardons  !  Were  your  salvation  out  of 
doubt,  no  matter  though  other  things  were  in  hazard.  I  be- 
seech you,  whatever  you  neglect,  look  to  this  :  I  am  afraid 
there  are  among  you  that  have  not  n  ade  your  peace  with 
God  yet  ;  that  are  not  yet  acquainted  with  that  great  work 
of  conversion  ;  Such  I  would  warn  and  charge  before  the 
livinor  God  to  speed  into  Christ,  and  without  any  more  dis- 
putes or  delays,  to  put  away  their  iniquities,  and  to  come  in 
and  deliver  up  themselves  to  Jesus  Christ,  that  they  may  be 
saved.  It  is  not  your  profession,  nor  performing  external 
duties,  nor  partaking  of  external  privileges,  that  will  save 
you.  No,  no  ;  you  must  be  converted  or  condemned.  It  is 
not  enough  that  you  have  some  love  and  liking  to  God's 
ways  and  people,  and  are  willing  to  venture  something  for 
them.  All  this  will  not  prove  you  sound  Christians.  Have 
your  hearts  been  changed?  Have  you  been  soundly  con- 
vinced of  your  sins  ;  of  your  damnable  and  undone  condi- 
tion  in  yourselves  ;  and  your  utter  inability  to  lick  yourselves 
whole  again  by  your  own  duties?     Have  you  been  brought 


162  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  Vll.) 

at  least  to  such  a  sight  and  sense  of  sin,  as  that  there  is  no 
sin,  though  agreeable  to  your  constitution,  though  a  support 
to  your  gain,  but  you  do  heartily  abhor  it,  and  utterly  dis- 
allow of  it  ?  Are  you  brought  to  such  a  sense  of  the  beauty 
of  holiness,  and  of  the  laws  and  ways  of  God,  as  that 
you  do  desire  to  know  the  whole  mind  of  God,  and  would 
not  excuse  yourselves  by  ignorance  from  any  duty,  and  that 
you  do  not  allow  yourselves  in  the  ordinary  neglect  of  any 
thing  that  conscience  charges  upon  you  as  a  duty?  Are 
your  very  hearts  set  upon  the  glorifying  and  enjoying  of 
God,  as  your  greatest  happiness,  which  you  desire  more 
than  corn,  and  wine,  and  oil?  Had  you  rather  be  the  holi- 
est, than  the  richest  and  greatest  in  the  world  ?  And  is 
your  greatest  delight  (ordinarily,  and  when  you  are  your- 
selves) in  the  thoughts  of  God,  and  in  your  conversings  with 
God  in  holy  exercises  ?  Is  Christ  more  precious  than  all  the 
world  to  you  ?  And  are  you  willing,  upon  the  thorough  con- 
sideration of  the  strictness,  and  holiness,  and  self-denying 
nature  of  his  laws,  yet  to  take  them  all  for  the  rule  of  your 
thoughts,  words,  and  actions?  And  though  religion  may 
cost  you  dear,  do  you  resolve,  if  God  will  assist  you  by  his 
grace,  to  go  through  with  it,  let  the  cost  be  what  it  will  ? 
Happy  the  man  that  is  in  such  a  case  !  This  is  a  christian 
indeed ;  and  whatever  you  be  and  do  short  of  this,  all  is  un- 
sound. But  you,  that  bear  in  your  souls  the  marks  of  the 
Lord  Jesus  above-mentioned,  upon  you  I  should  lay  no  other 
burden,  but  to  hold  fast,  and  make  good  your  ground,  and 
press  forward  towards  the  mark.  Thankfully  acknowledge 
the  distinguishing  grace  of  God  to  your  souls  ;  and  live  re- 
joicingly in  the  hopes  of  the  glory  of  God,  the  hopes  that 
shall  never  make  you  ashamed.  Live  daily  in  the  praises 
of  your  Redeemer  :  Be  much  in  admiring  God.  and  study 
the  worthiness,  excellency,  and  glory  of  his  attributes.  Let 
your  souls  be  much  taken  up  in  conten)plating  and  com- 
mending his  glorious  perfection,  and  blessing  yoiu'selves  in 
the  goodly  portion  you  have  in  him  :  Live  like  those  that 
have  a  God,  and  then  be  disconsolate  if  you  can.  If  there 
be  not  more  in  an  infinite  God  to  comfort  you,  than  in  a 
prison,  or  poverty,  or  other  affliction  to  deject  yon,  our 
preaching  is  vain,  and  your  faith  is  vain.  Let  the  thoughts 
of  God  be  your  daily  repast  ;  and  never  be  satisfied,  till  your 
hearts  run  out  as  freely,  naturally,  constantly,  unweariedly 
after  God,  as  others  do  after  the  world.     A  little  force  upon 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  163 

your  heart  for  a  while  to  turn  them  into  this  holy  channel, 
may  quick'y  come  so  to  habituate  your  minds  to  holiness, 
that  they  may  naturally  run  that  way.  But  it  is  titne  to  shut 
up :  Farewell,  my  dear  brethren  !  The  Lord  God  Al- 
mighty be  a  protection  to  you,  and  your  exceeding  great  re- 
ward !  Farewell  in  the  Lord  ! 

I  am, 

Yours  in  the  bowels  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
i]t/i  iSepi.  1663. 

P  S.  Just  now  I  received  your  melting  letter,  to  which  I 
am  not  able  now  to  return  an  auswer,  but  shall  with  speed. 
Your  very  great  atfections  for  me  cannot  but  move  me  and 
make  me  ready  to  repeat  again  the  first  words  of  my  letter 
above.  The  Lord  enable  me  to  return  something  to  you  for 
your  great  loves  ;  1  am  sensible  1  have  come  very  short  of 
my  duty  to  you  ;  but  I  must  needs  tell  you,  my  bowels  are 
moved  with  your  loves ;  which  I  hope  I  shall  greatly  prize. 
Once  more  farewell  ! 

My  dear  brother  Norman  remembers  you  with  much  love, 
desiriug  that  you  may  be  blameless  and  harmless,  the  sons 
of  God,  without  rebuke  in  the  midst  of  a  crooked  and  per- 
verse nation,  among  whom  ye  shall  shine  as  lights  in  the 
world. 


LETTER  YIIL 

[How  to  shew  I  we  to  Ministers,  and  live  joyfully.] 

To  the  most  loving  and  dearly  beloved,  my  Christian  Friends 
in  Taunton,  grace,  mercy,  and  peace,  from  God  our  Fa- 
ther, and  from  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Most  Endeared  Brethren, — I  have  received  your 
moving  melting  letter,  and  could  not  look  over  such  tender 
expressions  of  your  working  afi'ectioQs,  without  some  com- 
motions in  my  own.  1  may  confidently  say,  I  spent  more 
tears  upon   those  lines,  than  ever  you  did   ink.     Your  deep 


164  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  VIII.) 

sense  of  my  labours  in  the  ministry  I  cannot  but  thankfully 
acknowledge,  and  take  notice  of;  yet  withal,  heartily  and 
uufeignedly  confessing  that  all  was  but  the  duty  which  I  did 
owe  to  your  precious  and  immortal  soliJs  ;  which,  God  knows, 
are  very  much  short  of  my  duty.  The  omissions,  iniperfec- 
tions,  defects,  deadness,  that  accompanied  my  duties,  I  do 
own,  I  must  and  will  own  ;  and  the  Lord  humble  me  for 
them  !  But  all  that  was  of  God  (and  that  was  all  that  was 
good)  be  sure  that  you  give  to  God  alone.  To  him  I  hum- 
bly ascribe  both  the  will  and  the  deed,  to  whom  alone  be 
glory  for  ever. 

My  dear  brethren,  my  business,  as  I  have  often  told  you, 
is  not  to  gain  your  hearts,  or  turn  your  eyes  towards  me, 
but  to  Jesus  Christ.  His  spokesman  I  am  :  Will  you  give 
your  hearts  to  him  ;  will  you  give  _>our  hands,  your  names 
to  him ;  will  you  subscribe  to  his  laws,  and  consent  to  his 
offices,  and  at  thorough  defiance  with  all  his  enemies? 
This  do,  and  I  have  my  errand.  Who  will  follow  Christ's 
colours  ;  who  will  come  under  his  banner  ?  This  shall  be  the 
man  that  shall  be  my  friend  ;  this  is  he  that  will  oblige  me 
for  ever.  Do  these  letters  come  to  none  that  are  yet  un- 
sanctified;  to  no  loose  sinner  :  to  no  ignorant  sinner  ;  to  no 
unsound  professor?  Oh  that  there  were  none  such  indeed  ! 
Oh  that  i  had  left  no  such  behind  me!  But  would  they  do 
me  a  kindness,  as  I  believe  they  would  ?  Oh  then,  let  them 
come  away  to  Jesus  Christ  at  this  call !  Lie  no  longer,  O 
sinner,  in  thy  swill  ;  be  no  more  in  love  with  darkness  ; 
stick  no  longer  in  the  skirts  and  outside  of  religion  ;  demur 
no  longer,  dispute  not  and  waver  no  more,  halt  no  further, 
but  strike  in  throughly  with  Jesus  Christ;  except  nothing, 
reserve  nothing,  but  come  off  throughly  to  the  Lord,  and  fol- 
low him  fully.  And  then  happy  man  that  thou  shalt  be,  for 
thou  wilt  be  made  for  ever  ;  and  joyful  man  that  I  shall  be, 
for  I  shall  save  a  soul  from  death.  The  earnest  and  pitiful 
beggings  of  a  poor  prisoner  do  use  to  move  some  bowels  : 
Hear,  O  friends,  wi  I  you  do  nothing  for  a  minister  of  Christ  ? 
Nothing  for  a  prisoner  of  Jesus  Christ  ?  Melhinks  I  hear 
you  answer,  ''  Yea,  rather  what  will  we  not  do  ?  He  shall 
never  want  while  we  have  it ;  he  shall  need  no  office  of  love, 
but  we  will  run  and  ride  to  do  it."  Yea,  but  this  is  not  that 
I  beg  of  you  ;  will  you  gratify  me  indeed  ?  Then  come  in, 
kiss  the  Son,  bow  to  the  name  of  Jesus;  not  in  compli- 
ment, with  cap  and  knee,  but  let  your  souls  bow,  let  all  your 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  165 

powers  bend  sail,  and  do  him  homage.  Let  that  sacred  name 
be  graven  into  the  substance  of  your  hearts,  and  lie  as  a 
bundle  of  myrrh  between  your  breasts.  Let  me  freely  speak 
for  him  ;  for  Ho  is  worthy  for  whom  you  shall  do  this  thing ; 
worthy  to  be  beloved  of  you  ;  worthy  to  have  your  very 
hearts  ;  worthy  to  be  admired,  adored,  praised,  served,  glo- 
rified to  the  uttermost  by  you  and  every  creature  ;  worthy  for 
whom  you  should  lay  down  all,  leave  all.  Can  any  thing 
be  too  much  for  him  ?  Can  any  thiug  be  too  good  for  him, 
or  too  great  for  him  ?  Come,  give  up  all,  resign  all,  lay  it  at 
the  feet  of  Christ  Jesus,  offer  all  as  a  sacrifice  to  him,  see 
that  you  be  universally  the  Lord's  ;  keep  nothing  from  him. 
I  know,  through  the  goodness  of  God,  that  with  many  of  you 
this  work  is  not  yet  to  do  ;  but  this  set  solemn  resignation 
to  the  Lord  is  to  be  done  more  than  once  ;  and  to  be  fol- 
lowed with  an  answerable  practice  when  it  is  done  ;  see  that 
you  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord.  "  But  how  ]"  In  the  Jear  of 
the  Lord,  and  in  the  comfort  of  the  Holy  Ghost ;  let  these 
two  go  together.  So  shall  you  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Saviour ;  and  experience  the  heavenly  felicity  of  a  chris- 
tian's life.  While  holiues  is  made  the  butt  of  others'  persecu- 
tion, do  you  make  itthe  white,  the  mark  of  your  prosecution  ; 
that  you  live  it  up,  as  much  as  others  cry  it  down.  0  watch, 
and  keep  your  garments  about  you  ;  the  plain,  but  comely  clo- 
thing of  humility,  the  seamless  coat  of  christian  unity,  the 
strait  and  close  garment  of  strictness,  mortification,  and  self- 
denial,  the  warm  winter-garment  of  love  and  charity  :  this 
garment  will  keep  you  warm  in  winter  ;  love  will  not  be 
quenched  by  the  waters,  nor  cooled  by  the  nipping  frost  of 
persecution  and  opposition.  Cleave  fast  to  Christ ;  never 
let  go  your  hold  ;  cling  the  faster,  because  so  many  are  la- 
bouring to  knock  ofi'  your  fingers,  and  loosen  your  hold. 
Hold  fast  your  profession,  hold  last  your  integrity,  hold  fast 
the  beginning  of  your  confidence  steadfast  to  the  end.  If 
you  do  but  keep  your  hold,  and  make  good  your  ground,  and 
keep  your  way,  all  that  the  world  can  do,  and  all  that  the 
powers  of  darkness  can  do,  can  never  do  you  harm.  Keep 
your  own  vineyard  with  constant  care  and  watchfulness,  and 
be  sure  that  there  be  no  inroad  made  upon  your  conscien- 
ces, that  the  enemy  do  not  get  between  you  and  home,  be- 
tween your  souls  and  God  ;  and  then  let  who  or  what  will 
assail  you  without,  you  need  not  fear.  Let  this  be  your 
daily  exercise,  to  keep  your  consciences  void  of  offence  : 

15 


166  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  IX.) 

Keep  fair  weather  at  home,  however  it  be  abroad.  But  I 
would  uot  only  that  you  should  walk  holily,  but  that  you 
should  walk  comfortably  :  But  I  need  say  the  less  to  this, 
because  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  and  the  comfort  of  the  Holy 
Ghost,  do  lie  together.  Oh  the  provision  God  hath  made 
for  your  continual  joy  and  comfort !  Dear  brethren,  do  but 
understand  your  own  blessedness,  happy  men  that  you  are, 
if  you  did  but  know  and  consider  it !  "VVho  would  count  him- 
self poor  and  miserable  that  hath  all  the  fulness  of  the  God- 
head for  his  soul?  Sound  in  this  deep  ;  can  you  find  any 
bottom?  Take  the  height  of  the  divine  perfections  if  you 
can  ;  till  then  you  cannot  tell  your  own  felicity.  Take  a 
survey  of  imtnensity,  tell  me  the  longitude  or  latitude  of  in- 
finite goodness  and  mercy,  of  the  eternal  Deity:  Oh  Chris- 
tians !  live  like  yourselves,  live  worthy  of  your  portion,  of 
your  privlege,  and  your  glorious  prerogatives  I  am  in 
haste,  and  it  is  time  for  me  to  end  ;  however,  that  you  may 
walk  worthy  of  your  glorious  hopes,  and  may  live  answera- 
bly  to  the  mercies  you  have  received  from  above,  is  the  great 
desire  of 

Your  souls'  fervent  well-wisher  in  the 

bonds  of  affliction  and  tribulation, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
18^A  September,  1663. 


LETTER  IX. 

[Easy  sufferings.] 

To  the  most  beloving  and  beloved,  my  Christian  Friends,  at 
Taunton,  salvation  : 

Dearly  Peloved  and  Longed  for,  my  Joy  and  Crown,  for 
whom  I  am  an  Ambassador  in  bonds,  what  thanks  to  render 
to  God  in  your  behalf  I  know  not,  for  your  fervent  charity 
towards  me,  and  all  the  servants  of  my  Lord,  for  all  your 
labours  of  love,  for  all  your  diligence,  and  boldness,  and  re- 
solution, in  owning  the  despised  ways  and  hated  servants  of 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  167 

the  Lord  Jesus,  in  an  evil  day.  The  Lord  is  not  unright- 
eous to  forget  this  ;  is  not  this  upon  record  with  him,  and 
sealed  up  among  his  treasures?  Surely  the  Lord  will  h^ve 
mercy  upon  Taunton.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  the  God  of 
your  mercies  hath  yet  a  choice  blessing  in  store  for  you  : 
Be  not  weakened  by  my  bonds.  Glory  be  to  God  in  the 
highest;  that  he  hath  accounted  me  worihy,  not  only  to 
preach  the  gospel  to  you,  but  also  to  confirm  it  by  the  part- 
ing with  my  much  valued  liberty,  so  dear  a  people,  so  sweet 
relations,  comforts,  conveniences,  which  1  enjoyed  in  all 
abundance  when  I  was  with  you.  When  I  look  back  upon 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  late  providence,  I  must  say  as 
they  of  Christ  upon  his  miracles,  "  He  hath  done  all  things 
well ;"  it  is  all  as  I  would  have  it  ;  I  am  fully  satisfied  in 
my  Father's  good  pleasure.  Verily  there  is  no  little  honour 
and  happiness,  no  little  peace  and  privilege  in  these  bonds. 
Verily  all  is  true  that  I  have  told  you  of  the  all-sufficiency 
of  God,  of  the  fulness  of  Christ,  of  the  satisfactoriness  of  the 
promises,  of  the  peace,  tranquillity,  content,  and  security 
that  is  to  be  had  in  a  life  of  faith.  Surely,  methinks,  I 
should  be  content  to  seal  to  these  things  at  a  much  dearer 
rate  than  this  ;  but  my  gracious  Father  will  not  put  me  to 
the  hardest  lesson  at  first.  Oh  what  reason  have  I  to 
speak  good  of  his  name !  What  else  should  I  do  all  my 
days,  but  love,  and  fear,  and  preach,  and  praise  so  good  a 
God  !  When  I  look  back  upon  the  gentle  dealings  of  God 
with  me,  I  often  think  he  hath  brought  me  up  as  indulgently 
as  David  did  Adonijah,  of  whom  it  is  said,  "  His  father  had 
not  displeased  him."  I  have  received  nothing  but  good  at 
the  hands  of  the  Lord  all  my  days  ;  and,  now  he  doth  begin 
to  afflict,  I  see  so  niwch  mercy  in  this  very  gaol,  that  I  must 
be  more  thankful  for  this  than  for  my  prosperity.  Surely 
the  name  of  the  place  is  The  Lord  is  here:  Surely  it  may 
be  called  Peniel.  Be  strong  in  the  Lord,  my  brethren,  be 
patient,  stablish  your  hearts,  for  the  coming  of  the  Lord 
draws  nigh.  Ju  nothing  be  terrified  by  your  adversaries. 
Now  let  those  that  fear  the  Lord  be  often  speaking  one  to 
another.  I  hear  that  Satan  is  practising  to  send  more  of  you 
after  me  :  I  desire  and  pray  for  your  liberty  :  but  if  any  of 
you  be  forced  hither  lor  the  testimony  of  the  gospel,  I  shall 
embrace  you  with  both  arms.  Fare  you  well,  my  most 
dearly  beloved :  be  perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one 
mind,  live  in  peace,  and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be 


168  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.    X.) 

with  you.  My  brethren  in  bonds  snlute  you  with  much 
affection,  rejoicing  to  behold  your  order  and  the  steadfastness 
of  your  faith  in  Christ.  Share  my  heart  among  you,  and 
know  that  I  am 

The  willing  servant  of  your  faith  and  joy, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Common  Gaol  at  Jdelchester, 
28t/i  September,  lb63. 


LETTER  X. 

[The  love  of  Christ.] 

To  my  beloved  in  the  Lord,  the  flock  of  Christ  at  Taunton, 
grace  and  peace. 

Mo^T  Loving  and  Best  Beloved, — My  heart  is  withyouj 
my  affections  are  e^^poused  to  you.  And  methinks  I  could 
even  say  with  the  apostle,  Yon  are  in  my  heart,  to  live  and 
die  with  yon.  And  who  can  but  love  where  they  have  re- 
ceived so  much  love  (and  continually  do)  as  I  have  from 
you  ?  The  Lord  requite  your  love  which  is  grent,  (and  if 
compared  with  his,  but  little)  with  His  which  is  infinite  : 
This  is  a  love  worthy  of  your  ambition,  worthy  of  your  ado- 
ration and  admiration.  This  is  the  womb  that  bore  you 
from  eternity,  and  out  of  which  have  burst  forth  all  the 
mercies,  spiritual  and  temporal,  that  you  enjoy.  T  his  was 
the  love  that  chose  you  ;  when  less  offenders,  and  those  that 
being  converted  might  have  been  a  hundred-fold  more  ser- 
viceable to  their  Maker's  glory,  are  left  to  perish  in  their  sins. 
May  your  souls  be  filled  with  the  sense  of  this  love  !  But 
it  may  be  you  will  say,  "  How  shall  I  know  if  I  am  an  ob- 
ject  of  electing  love?"  Lest  an  unbelieving  thought  should 
damp  your  joy,  know,  in  short,  that  if  you  have  chosen  God, 
he  hath  certainly  chosen  you.  Have  you  taken  him  for 
your  blessedness  ?  And  do  you  more  highly  prize,  and  more 
diligently  seek  after  contbrmity  to  him,  and  the  fruition  of 
him  than  any,  than  all  the  goods  of  this  world.  If  so,  then 
away  with  doubts  :  for  you  could  not  have  loved,  and  have 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  169 

chosen  him,  unless  he  had  loved  you  first.  Now  may  my  be- 
loved dwell  continually  in  the  thoughts,  the  views,  the  tastes 
of  this  love.  Get  you  down  under  its  shadows,  and  taste  its 
pleasant  fruits.  Oh  the  provisions  that  love  hath  made 
for  you,  before  the  foundation  of  the  world  !  Ah  silly  dust, 
that  ever  thou  shouldest  be  though  upon  so  long  before  thou 
wast ;  that  the  contrivances  of  the  Infinite  Wisdom  should 
be  taken  up  about  thee  ;  that  such  a  crawling  thing,  such  a 
mite,  a  flea,  should  have  the  consultations  of  the  Eternal 
Deity  exercised  about  thee  !  Verily  his  love  to  thee  is 
woiiderful.  Lord  what  is  man  1  Thou  tellest  us  he  is  dust 
and  vanity,  a  worm,  nothins^,  less  than  nothing  ;  how,  then, 
dost  thou  love  him  ?  Oh  wonderful  !  be  astonished,  ye 
heavens,  at  this  !  Be  moved,  ye  strong  foundations  of  the 
earth  :  Fall  down,  he  elders  ;  strike  up,  ye  heavenly  choirs, 
and  sing  yet  again.  Glory  to  God  in  the  liighest  :  For  all  our 
strings  would  crack  to  reach  the  notes  of  love,  praise,  and 
admiration  that  this  love  doth  call  for.  Oh  that  every  empti- 
ness and  vanity  should  be  thus  prized  !  that  Jeliovah  should 
make  account  of  so  worthless,  so  useless  a  thing  as  man! 
that  ever  baseness  should  be  thus  preferred  !  that  ever  nothing 
should  be  thus  dignified!  that  ever  rottenness  should  be 
thus  advanced  ;  a  clod,  a  shadow,  a  potsherd,  should  be 
thus  glorified  !  Oh  brethren,  study,  I  beseech  you,  not  to 
requite  or  retaliate  (there's  impossibility  and  blasphemy  in 
such  a  thought)  but  to  admire  and  imitate  his  love.  Let 
love  constrain  you,  let  love  put  you  upon  doing,  and  prepare 
you  for  suffering  :  Forget  not  a  love  so  memorable,  under- 
value not  a  love  so  invaluable.  I  would  have  you  all  the 
captives  of  love  :  May  the  cords  of  love  draw  you  towards, 
and  knit  you  to,  your  Redemer  ;  may  the  divided  streams 
be  united  in  him.  Alas,  that  our  souls  are  so  narrow,  that 
the  waters  are  so  shallow  with  us  !  How  little,  how  very 
little,  would  our  love  be,  if  he  had  it  all !  Infinitely  less 
th m  the  glowworm  to  the  sun,  or  the  atom  to  the  universe. 
And  have  we  any  of  this  little  to  spare  for  him  ?  Oh  that 
we  might  love  him  with  our  little  all  !  that  all  our  little  powers 
wereengiged  for  him  !  Brethren,  here  is  no  excess.  Oh 
love  the  Lord,  ye  his  saints  !  He  is  worthy  for  whom  you 
shidi  do  this.  Do  but  think,  what  love  hath  done  for  you, 
and  think,  if  you  can,  what  it  means  to  do  for  you.  This  is 
the  love  that  yearned  upon  you,  when  in  your  blood,  no  eye 

15* 


170  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   X.) 

pitying  you.  This  is  the  love  that  took  you  up,  when  you 
were  robbed,  and  wounded,  and  left  for  dead,  and  poured  in 
wine  and  oil  into  your  wounds.  This  is  that  love  that  re- 
prieved, and  spared,  and  pardoned,  when  the  law  had  con- 
demned you,  and  justice  would  have  had  you  delivered 
up  ;  and  your  self-condemning  consciences  gave  up  all  for 
lost,  concluding  there  was  no  hope.  This  is  the  love,  the 
expensive  love  that  bought  you  from  the  power  of  dark- 
ness, from  the  eternal  burnings,  the  devouring  fire  in  Avhich 
you  must  otherwise  have  dwelt.  Do  you  not  remember  how 
you  were  hungry,  and  it  fed  you,  naked  and  it  clothed  you, 
strangers  and  it  took  you  in,  sick  and  it  visited  you,  in  pri- 
son and  it  came  unto  you?  You  were  dead  and  are  alive, 
you  were  lost  and  are  found.  And  methinks  I  see  how  love 
runs  to  meet  you,  and  falls  upon  your  necks,  and  kisseth  the 
lips  that  deserve  to  be  loathed,  and  rejoices  over  you,  and 
makes  a  festival  and  as  it  were  a  holiday  in  heaven  for  you 
inviting  angels  to  rejoice.  And  if  the  friends  do  rejoice, 
how  much  more  doth  the  Father  ?  For  saith  he,  These  my 
sons  were  dead  and  are  alive,  were  lost  and  are  found.  Oh 
melting  love  !  Ah,  brethren,  how  strange  is  this,  that  our 
recovery  should  be  heaven's  triumph,  the  joy  of  God  and 
angels  !  that  this  love  should  feast  us,  and  feast  over  us,  and 
our  birth-day  should  be  kept  in  heaven  ;  that  this  should  be  the 
round  at  heaven's  table,  and  the  burden  of  the  songs  above. 
— "  For  this  my  son  was  dead,  and  is  alive  and  well  !'* 
What  remains,  but  that  you  should  be  another  manner  of  peo- 
ple than  ever  yet  you  have  been  ;  more  holy,  more  humble, 
more  even,  more  resolved,  more  lively,  more  active  ?  Where 
is  your  zeal  for  the  Lord  of  Hosts  ?  Will  slender  returns  suf- 
fice you  in  answer  to  such  a  love?  God  forbid  !  But  neces- 
sity calls  me  off*  from  going  any  further.  May  the  love  that 
chose  you,  and  redeemed  you,  for  ever  dwell  in  you,  and 
overshadow  you  and  bear  you  safe  to  the  kingdom  !  In  the 
holy  arms  of  Divine  love  I  desire  to  leave  you.  May  you 
live  under  its  daily  influences,  and  be  melted  and  overcome 
with  its  warming  beams,  with  its  quickening,  piercing, 
powerful  rays  I  My  most  dear  love  to  you  all.  See  that 
you  live  not  in  a  dull,  fruitless,  lifeless  course.  Be  patient, 
be  watchful,  instant  in  prayer,  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the 
Lord.     I    am   very  healthful    and   cheerful,  through  grace. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  171 

See  that  none  of  these  things  that  befall  us  move  you.     Fare 
you  well,  my  dear  brethren ;  farewell  in  the  Lord. 

I  am, 

Yours  in  the  strongest  bonds  of 

affection  and  affliction, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
26(k  October^  1GG3, 


LETTER  XL 

[Remember  Christ  crucified,  and  crucify  sin.] 

To  the  faithful  and  well-beloved  people,  the  servants  of  Christ 
in  Taunton,  salvation. 

'  Most  Dear  Christians, — I  am  by  office  a  remem- 
brancer, the  Lord's  remembrancer  for  you,  and  your  remem- 
brancer in  the  behalf  of  Christ.  My  business  is,  with  the 
apostle,  to  stir  up  your  pure  minds  hij  waij  of  remembrance. 
And  what  or  whom  should  I  remember  you  of,  but  your 
most  mindful  Friend,  your  Litercessor  with  the  Father,  who 
hath  you  always  in  remembrance,  appearing  in  the  presence 
of  God  for  you  1  May  his  memory  ever  live  in  our  hearts, 
though  mine  should  die  !  Oh  remember  his  love  more  than 
wine;  remember  in  what  a  case  he  found  vou,  and  yet  no- 
thing could  annihilate  his  heart,  nor  divert  the  purpose  of 
his  love  from  you  :  He  loathed  not  your  rags  nor  your 
rottenness.  He  found  you  in  a  loathsome  vomit  and  filthi- 
ness,  a  nasty  atid  verminous  tatters  (think  not  these  expres- 
sions too  odious  ;  no  pen  can  describe,  no  heart  can  ima- 
gine, the  odiousness  of  sin  in  his  sight,  in  which  you  lay 
and  rolled  yourselves  as  the  filthy  swine  in  the  mire)  ;  yet 
he  pitied  you,  his  bowels  were  moved,  and  his  compassions 
were  kindled,  when  one  would  have  thought  his  wrath 
should  have  boiled  and  his  indignation  have  burned  down 
to  hell  against  you  :  He  loathed  not,  but  loved  you,  and 
washed  you  from  your  sins  in  his  own  blood  ;  Ah,  mon. 
strous  and  polluted  captives  !  ah  vile  and  putrid  carcasses ! 


172  CHUISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XI.) 

that  ever  the  holy  Jesus  should  take  the  hands  of  you,  and 
should  his  own  self  wash  you,  and  raise  you,  and  rinse  you  ! 
Methinks  I  see  him  weeping  over  you  ;  and  yet  it  was  a 
more  costly  bath  by  which  he  cleansed  you.  Ah  sinners  ! 
look  upon  the  streaming  blood  flowing  out  warm  from  his 
blessed  body,  to  letch  out  the  engrained  tilthiness  that  you 
by  sin  had  contracted.  Alas  !  what  a  horrid  filthiness  in 
sin,  that  nothing  but  the  blood  of  the  covenant  could  wash 
away  !  And  what  a  love  is  Christ's,  that,  when  no  soap  or 
nitre  could  suffice  to  cleanse  us,  when  a  whole  ocean  could 
not  wash  nor  purify  us,  would  open  every  vein  of  his  heart 
to  do  the  work  I  Look  upon  your  crucified  Lord  :  Do  you 
not  see  a  sacred  stream  flowing  out  of  every  member?  Ah, 
how  those  holy  hands,  those  unerring  feet  do  run  a  stream 
to  purge  us  !  Alas,  how  that  innocent  back  doth  bleed  with 
cruel  scourings  to  save  ours  !  How  the  great  drops  of  blood 
fall  to  the  ground  from  his  sacred  face  in  his  miraculous 
sweat,  in  his  bitter  and  bloody  agony,  to  wash  and  beautify 
ours  !  How  his  wonderful  heart  and  side  twice  pierced,  first 
with  love  and  pity,  and  then  with  soldiers'  cruelty,  do  pour 
out  their  healthful  and  saving  floods  upon  us  I  Lord,  how 
do  we  make  a  shift  to  forget  such  a  love  as  this  !  Ah  mir- 
rors, or  rather  monsters,  of  ingratitude,  that  can  be  unmind- 
ful of  such  a  friend  !  Do  we  thus  requite  him  ?  Is  this 
our  kindness  to  such  an  obliging  friend  ?  Christians, 
where  are  your  affections?  To  what  use  do  you  put  your 
faculties?  What  have  you  memories  for,  but  to  remember 
him?  What  have  you  the  power  of  loving  for,  but  that  you 
should  love  him  ?  Wherefore  serves  joy  or  desire,  but  to 
long  for  him  and  delightfully  to  embrace  him?  May  your 
souls  and  all  their  powers  be  taken  up  with  him  ;  may  all 
the  little  doors  of  your  souls  be  set  open  to  him  !  Here  fix 
your  thoughts,  here  terminate  your  desires  ;  here  you  may 
light  your  candle  and  kindle  your  fire  when  almost  out. 
Rub  and  chafe  your  hearts  well  with  the  deep  consideration 
or  the  love  of  Christ,  and  it  is  a  wonder  if  they  do  not  get 
some  warmth.  The  Lord  shed  abroad  his  love  in  your 
hearts  by  the  Holy  Ghost:  Oh  !  that  this  love  might  con- 
strain you !  Brethren,  what  will  you  do  now  for  Jesus 
Christ?  Have  you  never  a  sacrifice  to  lay  upon  his  altar? 
Come,  and  I  will  shew  you  what  you  shall  do, — let  your 
hands  be  in  the  blood  of  your  sins,  fall  foul  with  them, 
search  them  out  with  diligence,  search  your  hearts  and  your 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  173 

houses  I  Whatever  iniquities  you  find  there,  out  with  them, 
put  them  far  from  your  tabernacles  ;  if  you  crucify  them 
not,  you  are  not  Jesus's  friends.  God  forbid  that  there 
should  be  a  lying  tongue,  or  any  way  of  deceit  in  your 
shops!  That  his  service  should  give  place  to  the  world  in 
your  families  !  Far  be  it  from  any  of  you,  my  brethren, 
that  you  should  be  careful  to  teach  your  children  and  ser- 
vants the  way  of  your  trades  and  calling.-^,  and  neglect  to 
instruct  them  in  the  way  of  life.  Is  weekly  catechising  up 
in  every  one  of  your  families  1  The  Lord  convince  any  of 
you  that  may  be  guilty  of  this  neglect  1  Oh  !  set  up  God 
in  vour  houses  ;  and  see  that  you  be  not  slovenly  in  closet 
performances  :  Beware  of  serving  the  Lord  negligently  : 
serve  not  the  Lord  with  that  which  costs  you  nothing  : 
Look  to  it  that  you  content  not  yourselves  with  a  cheap  and 
easy  religion.  Put  your  flesh  to  it  Be  well  assured  that 
the  religion  that  costs  you  nothing,  will  yield  you  nothing  : 
Keep  up  the  life  of  religion  in  your  family  and  closet  du- 
ties. Fear  nothing  like  a  customary  and  careless  perform- 
ance of  God's  service.  Judge  your  own  selves  wheth- 
er lazy  wishes,  idle  complaints,  and  yawning  prayers, 
are  like  to  carry  you  through  the  mighty  difficulties  that  you 
must  get  through,  if  ever  you  come  to  heaven  When  you 
find  yourselves  going  on  in  a  listless,  lifeless,  heartless 
course,  and  have  no  mind  to  your  work,  ask  yourselves,  "  Is 
this  to  take  the  kingdom  of  heaven  by  violence;  or  can  I 
hope  to  win  it  without  ?"  See  that  you  sacrifice  yourselves 
to  the  Lord,  that  you  deliver  up  yourselves  to  him,  that  now 
you  live  to  Christ  himself.  As  Christ  hath  made  over  his 
life  and  death  to  you,  so  let  it  be  your  care  to  live  and  die 
to  him  :  Labour  to  forget  yourselves  and  look  upon  all 
your  enjoyments  as  Christ's  goods  ;  upon  your  time,  parts, 
strength,  as  his  talents  :  Look  upon  yourselves  only  in 
the  quality  of  servants  and  stewards  that  are  to  husband  all 
these  for  your  Lord's  advantage,  and  as  those  that  must  give 
an  account.  And  pray  for  me  that  I  may  take  the  counsel 
that  I  give.  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  want  nothing  but  the  op- 
portunity of  being  serviceable  unto  you,  and  to  enjoy  you  : 
But  I  hope  the  Lord  will  make  my  bonds  for  you  to  be 
useful  to  your  edification  ;  that  is  the  white  I  aim  at,  if  I 
may  glorify  God,  and  serve  your  souls  best  by  being  here, 
1  shall  never  wish  to  come  out,  though  I  confess  liberty  of 
itself  is  very  precious.     Finally,  brethren,  farewell:     Be 


174  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XII.) 

perfect,  be  of  good  comfort,  be  of  one  mind,  live  in  peace, 
and  the  God  of  love  and  peace  shall  be  with  you.     I  am, 

The  ready  servant  of  your  faith  and  joy, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  thb  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
Hth  October,  1663. 

My  dear  brother  Norm m  salutes  you  tenderly,  and  desir- 
ing you  to  be  patient,  to  establish  your  hearts,  ior  the  com- 
ing  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh. 


LETTER  XIL 

[For  daily  self-examination.] 

To  the  most  beloved  people,   the  flock  of  Christ  in  Taunton^ 
salvation. 

Most  Dear  Brethren, — I  would  my  time  were  as  long 
as  my  heart,  that  I  might  open  myself  to  you  ;  but  I  was 
not  without  some  discontent  diverted,  when  I  was  setting 
myself  to  have  written  at  large  to  you.  Kow  I  am  pinched  ; 
however  I  could  not  leave  my  dear  charge  altogether  un- 
visited,  but  must  needs  salute  you  in  a  i'ew  lines.  Brethren, 
how  stands  it  with  you  1  Doth  the  main  work  go  on?  Do 
your  souls  prosper  ?  This  is  my  care  ;  beware  that  you  flag 
not,  that  you  faint  not  now,  in  the  evil  day.  I  understand 
that  your  dangers  grow  upon  you  ;  may  your  faith,  and 
courage,  and  resolution  grow  accordingly,  and  much  more 
abundantly  to  overtop  them. 

Some  of  your  enemies,  I  hear,  are  in  great  hopes  to  satisfy 
their  lusts  upon  you.  Well,  be  not  discouraged,  my  dear 
brethren,  but  bless  the  liord,  who,  of  his  abundant  mercy, 
hath  so  remarkably  preserved  you,  so  long  beyond  all  expec- 
tation. Let  it  not  be  a  strange  thing  to  you,  if  the  Lord  do 
now  call  you  to  some  difliculty.  Forsake  not  the  assembling 
of  yourselves  together,  as  the  manner  of  some  is.  I  plainly 
see  the  coal  of  religion  will  soon  go  out,  unless  it  have  some 
better  helps  to  cherish  it,  then  a  carnal  ministry,  and  lifeless 
administration.  Dear  brethren,  now  is  the  time  for  you  that 
fear  the  Lord,  to  speak  often  one  to  another.     Manage  your 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  175 

duties  with  what  prudence  you  can,  but  away  with  that 
carnal  prudence  that  will  decline  duty  to  avoid  danger.  Is 
the  communion  of  saints  worth  the  venturing  for  1  Shut 
not  up  your  doors  against  godly  meetings.  1  am  told  that 
it  is  become  a  hard  matter,  when  a  minister  is  willing  to  take 
pains  with  you,  to  get  a  place.  Far  be  this  from  you,  my 
brethren.  VVhat !  shut  out  the  word  !  Suppose  there  be 
somewhat  more  danger  to  him  that  gives  the  minister  enter- 
tainment ;  is  there  not  much  more  advantage  accordingly? 
Did  Jiot  Obed  Edom,  and  his  house,  get  the  blessing,  by  en- 
tertaining the  ark  there?  Or  do  you  thing  God  hath  never 
a  blessing  for  those  that  shall,  with  much  self-denial,  enter- 
tain his  messengers,  his  saints,  his  worship?  Are  you  be- 
lievers, and  yet  are  atVaid  you  shall  be  losers  by  Christ  ? 
Do  you  indeed  not  know  that  he  that  runs  most  hazard  for 
Christ,  doth  express  most  love  to  Christ,  and  sha  1  receive 
the  greatest  reward?  Away  with  that  unbelief,  that  pre- 
fers the  present  safety  before  the  future  glory. 

I  left  you  some  helps  for  daily  examination  ;  I  am  jealous 
lest  you  should  grow  slack,  and  slight,  and  careless  in  that 
duty.  Let  me  ask  you,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord,  doth  never 
a  day  pass  you,  but  you  do  solemnly  and  seriously  call  your- 
selves  to  an  account,  what  your  carriage  hath  been  to  God 
and  men?  Speak,  conscience,  is  there  never  an  one,  within 
the  hearing  of  this  letter,  that  is  a  neglecter  of  this  duty? 
Doth  every  one  of  your  consciences  acquit  you  ?  Oh  that  they 
did !  Oh  that  they  could  !  Tell  me,  would  not  some  of  you 
be  put  shrewdly  to  it,  if  I  should  ask  you  when  you  read  or 
thought  over  the  questions  that  were  given  you  for  your 
help  t  And  would  you  not  be  put  to  a  blushj  to  give  me  an 
answer  ?  x\nd  will  you  not  be  much  more  ashamed,  that 
God  and  conscience  should  find  you  tardy?  Not  that  I 
would  necessarily  bind  you  up  to  that  very  method,  only  till 
you  have  found  a  way  more  profitable,  I  would  desire  you, 
yea,  methinks,  I  cannot  but  deeply  charge  you,  to  make 
daily  use  of  that.  Awake,  conscience,  and  do  thou  fall  upon 
that  soul  that  thou  findest  careless  in  this  work,  and  never 
let  him  be  at  rest  till  thou  canst  witness  for  him,  that  he  is 
a  daily  and  strict  observer  of  himself,  and  doth  live  in  the 
constant  practi<'e  of  this  duty.  What,  shall  neither  God's 
charge,  nor  your  promise,  nor  profit,  hold  you  to  your  work? 
Yet  I  may  not  doubt,  but  some  of  you  do  daily  perform  this 
duty.     The  Lord  encourage  you  in  it  ;  yet  give  me  leave  to 


176  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  XIII.) 

ask  you  what  you  have  gained.  Are  you  grown  more  uni- 
versally conscientious,  more  strict,  more  humble,  and  more 
sensible  of  your  many  and  great  detects,  than  you  were  be- 
fore ?  If  so,  blessed  are  you  of  the  Lord  ;  if  otherwise,  this 
duty  hath  been  performed  but  slightly  by  you.  What  can 
you  say  to  this  question?  Doth  your  care  of  your  ways 
abate,  or  doth  it  increase,  by  the  constant  use  of  his  duty  ? 
If  it  abate,  remember  from  whence  you  are  fallen,  and  re- 
pent ;  as  good  not  do  it  at  all,  as  not  to  the  purpose. 

My  pen  is  apt  to  run,  when  I  am  writing  unto  you.  I 
beseech  you,  that  my  letters  may  not  be  as  so  much  waste 
paper  to  you  ;  may  they  be  provocations  to  your  duty,  and 
medicines  lo  any  corruptions  that  they  meet  with.  Oh  that 
they  might  find  out  mea's  sins,  and  excite  their  graces  ?  I 
have  ran  much  farther  than  I  thought  I  should  have  done,  but 
now  I  am  called  upon,  and  must  shut  up.  The  Lord  God 
be  a  sun  and  a  shield  to  you.  My  most  dear  love  to  you 
all  ;   fare  you  well  in  the  Lord. 

I  am, 

Your  Ambassador  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Common  Gaol  at  Juelchester, 
20iA  October,  1663. 


LETTER  XIIL 

[Motives  and  marks  of  growth.] 

To  the  most  lovino;  and  best  beloved,  the  servants  of  Christ 
in  Taunton,  grace  and  peace. 

Most  Dear  and  Tender  Friends, — whose  I  am,  and 
whom,  under  God,  I  desire  to  serve  ;  to  build  you  up  in  ho- 
liness,  and  comtbrt,  hath  been,  through  grace,  my  great  am- 
bition. This  is  that  which  1  laboured  for;  this  is  that 
which  I  suffer  for  ;  and,  in  short,  the  end  of  all  my  applica- 
tions  to  you,  and  to  God  for  you.  How  do  your  souls  pros- 
per;  are  they  in  a  thriving  case?  What  progress  do  you 
make  in  sanctification  !  Doth  the  house  of  Saul  grow 
weaker  and  weaker,  and  the  house  of  David  stronger  and 


THE  REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  177 

stronger  ?  Beloved,  I  desire  to  be  jealous  of  you  with  a 
godly  jealousy,  lest  any  of  you  should  lose  your  ground  iu 
these  declining  times  ;  and,  therefore,  I  cannot  but  be  ofteu 
calling  upon  you  to  look  to  your  standing,  and  to  watch  and 
hold  last,  that  no  man  take  your  crown.  Ah!  how  surely 
shall  you  reap  in  the  end,  if  you  faint  not!  Take  heed, 
therefore,  that  you  lose  not  the  things  you  have  wrought;  but 
as  you  have  begun  well,  so  go  in  the  strength  of  Christ,  and 
give  diligence  to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  to  the  end.  It 
is  your  thriving,  I  tell  you,  I  drive  at. 

Do  you  need  motives?  1.  How  much  are  you  behind, 
hand  ?  Oh,  the  fair  advantages  that  we  have  lost !  What 
time,  what  sabbaths,  sermons,  sacraments,  are  upon  the 
matter  lost?  How  much  work  have  we  yet  to  dol  Are 
you  sure  of  heaven  yet?  Are  you  fit  to  die  yet?  Surely 
they  that  are  in  so  much  poverty,  under  so  many  great  wants, 
had  need  to  set  upon  some  more  thriving  courses. 

Secondly,  Consider  ivhai  others  have  gained,  ichilst  we,  it 
may  he.  sit  down  by  the  loss.  Have  vve  not  met  many  ves- 
sels richly  laden,  while  our  souls  are  empty  ?  Oh,  the  rich 
booties,  the  golden  prizes  that  some  have  won,  while  we  have 
folded  the  hands  to  sleep  ?  Have  not  many  of  our  own 
standing  in  religion  left  us  far  behind  them? 

Thirdly,  Consider  what  a  spending  time  there  is  coming  : 
Affliction  and  tribulation  seem  to  be  not  far  frona  you.  Had 
you  not  need  to  be  well  stocked  against  such  a  day  ?  Go  to 
the  atit,  thou  sluggard  ;  she  layeth  up  her  meat  in  summer. 
Happy  man  that  can  say  to  his  soul  on  good  grounds,  what 
he  vainly  spake,  Thou  hast  much  goods  laid  up  for  many 
years  ;  Who  will  not  victual  the  castle  against  the  siege,  and 
the  ship  against  the  voyage? 

Fourthly,  Consider  you  will  find  all  little  enough  when  you 
come  to  die.  The  wise  among  the  virgins  have  no  oil  to  spare 
at  the  coming  of  the  bridegroom  :  Distress,  and  temptations, 
and  death,  will  put  all  your  graces  to  it.  How  much  ado 
have  many  poor  saints  had  at  last  to  put  into  this  harbour? 
David  cries  lor  respite,  till  he  had  recovered  a  little  more 
strength. 

Fifthly,  Consider  how  little  it  luill  avail  you  to  thrive  in 
your  estates,  and  not  thrive  in  your  souls.  Poor  Gehazi  ! 
what  did  he  get  by  it  when  he  gained  JS^aaman's  talents, 
and  came  off  with  his  leprosy  ? 

Sixthly,  Consider  how  short  your  time  for  gathering,  in  all 
16 


178  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XIII.) 

probabilliij,  is :  The  Israelities  gathered  twice  so  much  man- 
na against  the  Sabbath  as  they  did  at  other  times,  because 
at  that  tune  there  was  no  manna  I'ell.  Brethren,  you  know 
not  how  long  you  have  to  lay  in  for. 

Seventhy,  Consider  GoiVs  expectations  are  great  from 
yon  He  hath  been  lopping  and  pruning  you,  and  now  he 
looks  tor  move  Jriiit.  He  hath  had  you  for  some  time  under 
his  more  severe  discipline,  and  therefore  expects  you  should 
be  better  proficients.  He  hath  tried  new  means  with  you, 
and  is  come  to  you  with  a  rod  ;  and  he  will  be  angry  with  a 
witness  if  he  do  not  tiud  you  now  to  mend.  Times  of  af- 
flictioa  use  to  be  gaining  times  to  God's  people  ;  Godforbid 
that  you  alone  should  be  losers  ! 

Do  yuu  ask  for  marks  how  you  may  know  your  souls  to 
be  la  a  thriving  case  .' 

1st,  If  your  appetites  he  more  strong.  Do  you  thirst  af- 
ter God,  and  after  grace  more  thau  heretofore?  Do  your 
Cures  for,  and  desires  after,  the  world  abate  ;  and  do  you  hun- 
ger and  thirst  after  righteousness  1  Whereas  you  were  wont 
to  come  with  an  ill-wdl  to  holy  duties,  do  you  come  to  them 
as  a  hungry  stomach  to  its  meat? 

2dly,  If  your  pulses  beat  more  even.  Are  you  still  off 
and  on,  hot  and  cold  ?  Or  is  there  a  more  even-spun  thread 
of  holiness  through  your  whole  course?  Do  you  make  good 
the  ground  from  which  you  were  formerly  often  beaten  oft*? 

3dly,  //"  your  natural  heat  do  grow  more  vigorons,  and 
your  digestion  more  quick.  Do  you  take  more  notice  of  God 
in  every  thing  than  heretofore  ;  and  let  none  of  his  works 
or  words  pass  without  some  careful  attention,  and  observa- 
tion ?  Do  you  ponder  upon,  and  pray  over,  his  word  aijdhis 
providences  ? 

4thly,  If  you  do  look  more  to  the  compass  and  latitvde  of 
religion,  and  mind  more  than  ever  the  carrying  on  together 
the  duties  of  both  tables.  Do  you  not  only  look  to  the  keep- 
ing of  your  own  vineyards  ;  but  do  you  begin  to  look  more 
abroad,  and  to  lay  out  yourselves  for  the  good  of  others,  and 
are  tilled  with  zealous  desires  for  their  conversion  and  saiva- 
tiori  ?  Do  you  manage  your  talk  and  your  trade  by  the  rules 
of  religion  ? 

Do  you  eat  and  sleep  by  rule  ?  Doth  religion  form,  and 
mould,  and  direct  your  carriage  towards  husband,  wife,  pa- 
rents, children,  masters,  servants?  Do  you  grow  more  uni- 
versally conscientious  ?  Is  piety  more  diflusive  than  ever  with 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  179 

you  ;  doth  it  come  more  abroad  with  you,  out  of  your  closets 
into  your  houses,  your  shops,  your  fields  ?  Doth  it  journey 
with  you,  and  buy  and  sell  for  you  ?  Hath  it  the  casting 
voice  in  all  you  do  ? 

athly,  //'  the  duties  of  relio-ion  be  more  easy,  sweet,  and 
deliglitfid  to  you.  Do  you  take  more  delight  in  the  word 
than  ever?  Are  you  more  in  love  with  secret  prayer,  and 
more  abundant  in  it  t  Cannot  you  be  content  with  your  or- 
dinary seasons,  but  are  ever  and  anon  making  extraordinary 
visits  to  heaven  ;  and  upon  all  occasions  turning  aside  to 
talk  with  God  in  some  short  ejaculations?  Are  you  olten 
darting  up  your  souls  heavenwards  ?  Is  it  meat  and  drink 
for  you,  to  do  the  will  of  God  ?  Do  you  come  off  more  freely 
with  God,  and  answer  his  calls  and  open  at  his  knocks,  with 
more  alacrity  and  readiness  of  mind] 

6thly,  If  you  are  more  abundant  in  those  duties  icliich  are 
most  displeasi?ig  to  the  flesh.  Are  you  more  earnest  upon  the 
duty  of  mortification  1  iVre  you  more  strict  and  severe  than 
ever  in  the  duty  of  daily  self-examination  and  holy  medita- 
tion 1  Do  you  hold  the  reins  harder  upon  the  liesh  than 
ever?  Do  you  keep  a  stricter  watch  upon  your  appetites'? 
Do  you  set  a  stronger  guard  upon  your  tongues  ?  Have  you 
a  more  jealous  eye  upon  your  hearts  ? 

7thly,  If  you  grow  more  vile  in  your  own  eyes.  Pride 
is  such  a  choking  weed,  that  nothing  will  prosper  near  it. 
Do  you  grow  more  out  of  love  with  men's  esteem,  and  set 
less  by  it  ?  Are  you  not  marvellous  tender  of  being  slighted  ? 
Can  you  rejoice  to  see  others  preferred  before  you  1  Can  you 
heartily  value,  and  love  them  that  think  meanly  of  you  ? 

Sthly,  If  you  grow  more  quick  of  sense,  more  tender  of 
sinning,  more  sensible  of  divine  influences  or  ivithdrawings. 
Are  you  more  afraid  of  sin  than  ever?  Are|  your  sins  a 
greater  pain  to  you  than  heretofore?  Are  your  very  infirmi- 
ties your  great  afflictions  ?  And  the  daily  workings  of  cor- 
ruption a  continual  grief  of  mind  to  you  ? 

9thly,  If  you  are  acted  mo^e  by  Jove  to  God  and  faith  in 
these  promises  Fear  is  a  slavish  principle  :  do  you  find  that 
you  are  acted  less  by  fear,  and  more  by  love  ?  Do  you  look 
more  frequently  than  ever  to  the  things  not  seen  ;  and  doth 
the  world  abate  in  your  esteem?  Do  you  go  more  out  of 
yourselves?  Do  you  live  upon  Christ  as  the  spring  of  your 
life,  and  make  more  use  of  him  upon  all  occasions  than  ever  t 


ISO  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XlV.) 

Do  you  prize  the  promises  more,  and  hug  and  embrace  them 
with  ijreater  dearness,  and  live  more  upon  them  ] 

lothly,  If  you  grow  more  of  a  public  spirit.  A  selfish 
spirit  is  unworthy  of  a  Christian  ;  are  the  common  concern- 
ments of  God's  glory  and  the  prosperity  of  the  church  much 
upon  your  hearts  i  Will  it  no  way  content  you  to  dwell  in 
plenty,  peace,  and  safety  yourselves,  except  you  may  see 
peace  upon  Israel  ?  Do  the  wounds  in  God's  name  and  glory 
go  deep  into  you?  Are  the  sins  of  others  your  sorrows  7 

Tune,  and  room,  and  strength,  fail  to  add  means  too,  as  I 
intended.  I  have  trespassed  in  length,  already,  may  these 
be  helps  to  you  to  put  you  forward  and  to  help  you  in  dis- 
cerning your  growth.  I  must  conclude  abruptly,  and  com- 
mend  you  to  God.  With  my  dear  loves  to  you  all,  I  take 
leave,  and  can  only  tell  you,  that  I  am, 

Yours  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
3l5^  October,  JGG3. 


LETTER  XlV. 

[Persuasion  to  sinners,  and  comfoit  to  saints.] 

To  my  dearly  beloved.,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taun- 
ton, grace,  mercy,  and  peace  from  God  our  Father,  and 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Most  Dearly  Beloved, — I  have  been  through  mercy 
many  years  with  you,  and  should  be  willingly  so  many  years 
a  prisoner  for  you,  so  I  might  eminently  and  effectually 
further  your  salvation.  I  must  again,  yea  again  and  again, 
thank  you  for  your  abundant  and  entire  affections  for  me, 
which  I  value  as  a  great  mercy,  not  in  order  to  myself,  if  I 
know  my  own  heart,  but  in  order  to  your  benefit,  as  I  may 
thereby  be  a  more  likely  instrument  to  further  your  good. 
Surely,  so  much  as  I  do  value  your  love,  which  is  not  a 
little,  yet  had  I  rather  (if  I  am  not  unacquainted  with  myself) 
be  forgotten  or  forsaken  of  you  all,  and  buried  in  oblivion, 
so  that  your   eyes   and  hearts   might  be   hereby   fixed  on 


THE    REV     JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  181 

Christ,  and  sincerely  engaged  to  him.     Brethren,  I  have  not 
bespoken  your  afiections  tor  myself!      0  that   I  might  win 
your  hearts    universally  to  Jesus   Christ,  though  I    had  lost 
them  tor  ever?      0  that  I   might  be  in^^trumental  to  convert 
you  to  Him,  though  you  were  diverted  t'rom  me!    I  am  per- 
suaded that  I  should  n.uch  rather  choose  to  be  hated  of  all, 
so  this  might  be  the  means  to  have  Christ  honoured,  and  set 
up  savingly  in  the   hearts  of  you  all.      And  indeed  there  is 
nothing  great  but  in  order  to  God  ;   nothing-  is  much  mater- 
rial  or  considerable,  as  it  is  terminated  in  us  :   It  matters  not 
whether  we  are  in  riches  or   poverty,  in    sickness  or  health, 
in  honor  or  disgrace,  so  Christ  may  be  by  us  magnified  in 
the  condition  we  are  in.     Welcome  prison  and  poverty,  wel- 
come scorn  and  envy,  welcome  pains  or  contempt,  if  by  these 
God's  glory  may  be   most  promoted!      \\  hat  are  we  for  but 
for  God?      What  doth   the  creature  signify  separated   from 
his  God?     Whv,  just  so  much  as  the  cypher  separated  from 
the  figure,  or  the  letter  from   the  syllable  ;   we  are    nothing, 
or  nothing  worth,  but  in  reference   to    God   and  his  ends. 
Better  were  it  that  we   had  never  been,  than  that  we  should 
not  be   to  him.     Better  that  we   were   dead,  than   that  we 
should  live,  and  not  to  him.      Better  that  we  had  no  under- 
standings, than  that  we  should  not  know  him.      Better  that 
we  were  blocks  and  brutes,  than  that  we  should  not  use  our 
reason  for  him.      What  are  our  interests,  unless  as  they  may 
be  subservient  to  his  interest ;  or  our  esteem  or  reputation, 
unless  we  may  hereby  glorify  him  ?     Do  you  love  me?     I 
know   you  do.     But  who   is  there   that  will   leave  his   sins 
for  me  ?     I  mean  at  my  requests.      With  whom  shall  I  pre- 
vail, to  give  up   himself  in    strictness  and   self-denial  to  the 
Lord?     Who  will  be  entreated  by  me,  to  set  upon  neglect- 
ed  duties,  or   reform   accust<  med   sins  ?     O   wherein    may 
you  rejoice  me?     In  this,  in  this,  my  brethren,  in  this  you 
shall  befriend  me,  if  you  obey    the  voice  of  God  by   me,  if 
you  be  prevailed  with  to  give  yourselves  up  thoroughly  to  the 
Lord  !     Would  you  lighten  my  burden  ?     Would  you  loosen 
my   bonds?     Would  you   make   my  heart  glad?     Let   me 
hear  of  your  owning  the   ways  and  servants  of  the  Lord  in 
adversity,  of  your  coming  in,  of  your  abiding   and  patient 
continuing  in,  the    ways   of  holiness.      0  that  I  could    but 
hear  that  the  prayerless  souls,  the  prayerless  families  among 
you,  were    now  given  to  prayer  !   that   the  profane  sinners 
would  be   awakened,  and   be   induced   by  the   preaching  of 

16* 


182  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    OF  (leT.   XIV.) 

these  bonds,  who  heretofore  would  not  be  prevailed  with,  to 
leave  their  drunkeniie?<s,  their  loose  company,  their  lying  and 
deceit,  and  wantonness,  by  all  the  thrccitenings  of  God  that 
could  not  be  pronounced  against  them,  nor  all  bcseechings, 
wooings,  and  entreaties  that  I  was  able  to  use  with  them  ! 
Will  you  not  be  made  clean?  When  shall  it  once  be? 
How  long  shall  the  patience  of  God  wait  for  you  ?  How 
long  shall  the  Lord  Jesus  stretch  out  his  hands  towards  you  ? 
O  sinners,  cast  yourselves  into  his  arms  !  Why  should  you 
die?  Why  will  you  forsake  your  own  mercy?  Will  you 
perish  when  mercy  woos  you?  Confess  and  forsake  your 
sins,  and  you  shall  find. mercy.  Will  you  part  with  Christ, 
and  sell  your  souls  to  perdition,  for  a  little  ease  and  delight 
to  your  flesh  ;  or  a  little  of  the  gain  of  unrighteousness  ; 
or  a  little  ale  or  vain  mirth  ;  or  loose  company  ?  Why, 
these  are  the  things  that  part  between  sinners  and  Christ. 

I  know  many  are  spun  with  a  tiner  thread,  and  are  not 
so  far  from  the  kingdom  of  God  as  the  prayerless,  ignorant, 
sabbath-breaking,  intemperate  sort  are.  But  I  must  once 
again  warn  you  of  staying  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city  of  refuge. 
0  what  pity  is  it  that  any  should  perish  at  the  gates  !  that 
any  should  escape  the  pollutions  of  the  world,  and  do  many 
things,  yea,  and  suffer,  it  may  be,  too,  and  yet  should  fall 
short  of  the  glory  of  God,  for  want  of  a  thorough  work  of 
grace  !  Oh,  you  halting  Christians  that  halt  between  Christ 
and  the  world,  that  are  as  Ephraim,  like  a  cake  not  turned, 
dough-baked,  professors  that  have  lamps  without  oil,  that 
cry,  "Lord,  Lord,"  but  do  not  the  will  of  our  Father  which 
is  in  heaven  !  How  long  will  you  stay  in  the  place  of  the 
breaking  forth  of  children,  and  stick  between  the  womb  and 
the  world  ?  Your  religion  will  carry  you  among  the  pro- 
fane despisers  of  godliness;  but  you  do  own  the  people  of 
the  Lord,  and  do  love  the  ministers  and  ordinances,  therefore 
all  is  well.  1  tell  you,  godliness  is  a  heart-work,  it  goes 
deep  and  spreads  far.  Unless  the  frame  of  your  hearts,  and 
the  drifts  of  your  course  be  changed,  unless  you  be  univer- 
sally conscientious,  and  unreservedly  delivered  up  to  the  Lord 
for  all  times  and  conditions,  whatever  be  the  cost,  you  are 
neue  of  C/hrist's,  how  far  soever  you  go  in  common  work- 
ings and  external  performances.  Hear  then,  O  people,  and 
let  not  profaneness  swallow  you  up  :  let  not  an  almost 
Christianity  deceive  you,  or  ignorance  carry  you  blindfold  to 
perdition.     Oh  the  thousands  and  tens   of  thousands  that 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  183 

have  been  undone  by  one  of  these !  Oh  !  how  often  have 
you  been  warned  against  them,  lest  you  should  split  against 
these  dangerous  rocks.  "  O  Jerusalem,  Jerusalem^''  said 
Christ,  and  "  O  Taunton,  Tavnion,"  may  I  say  from  him, 
"  how  often  I"  who  can  tell  how  often  would  God's  servants 
have  gathered  you,  and  you  would  not?  Many,  very  many 
of  you  would  not.  But  will  you  now?  Will  you  yet  come 
in?  I  cannot  forbear  once  more,  even  out  of  the  prison, 
to  call  after  poor  sinners,  and  make  one  tender  of  mercy 
more.  0  come  to  the  waters  of  life,  wash  you,  make  you 
clean  ;  read  with  diligent  observation  the  melting  passages, 
Prov.  i.  22,  to  the  end  ;  Isa.  i.  16,  21  ;  Isa.  Iv.  6,  10.  Oh 
obdurate  sinners,  if  none  of  these  things  move  you  ! 

But  for  you  whose  very  hearts  are  set  against  every  sin, 
and  are  deliberately  resolved  for  God  and  holiness  before  all 
the  world's  delight ;  you  that  have  experience  of  a  thorough 
change,  and  are  brought  to  have  respects  to  all  God's  com- 
mandments, who  will  have  none  but  God  for  your  happi- 
ness, none  but  Christ  for  your  treasure,  that  must  and  will 
have  him,  come  what  will  come,  blessed  are  you  of  the  Lord- 
O  happy  souls,  rejoice  in  the  Lord,  and  again  I  say,  rejoice, 
let  your  souls  magnify  the  Lord,  and  your  spirits  rejoice  in 
God  your  Saviour.  Live  you  a  life  of  praise,  you  are  highly 
favoured  in  the  Lord  ;  your  lines  are  fallen  in  a  pleasant 
place  ;  only  stick  you  fast  to  your  present  choice.  Beware 
lest  any  man  beguile  you  of  your  reward  :  watch  and  keep 
your  garments  about  you,  lest  you  walk  naked,  and  men  see 
your  shame.  Many  will  be  plucking,  to  pull  you  out  of 
Christ's  hands  ;  but  the  harder  they  pluck,  the  harder  do 
you  cling  and  cleave  to  him,  and  the  better  hold-fast  do  you 
take  of  him  :      Blessed  is  he  that  overcometh. 

And  now  the  God  of  heaven  fill  you  all  with  himself,  and 
make  all  grace  to  abound  in  you,  and  toward  you,  and  may 
he  be  a  sun  to  comfort  you,  and  a  shield  of  protection  to  you, 
and  shine  with  his  happy  beams  of  grace  and  glory  on  you 
all.     Farewell  in  the  Lord.     I  am, 

Yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

28th  August,  1663. 


184  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET,  XV.) 

LETTER  XV. 

[How  to  live  to  God.] 

To  the  beloved  people,  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Taunton, 
grace  and  peace. 

Most  endeared  Christians, — To  tell  you  I  love  and 
long  for  you,  seems  somewhat  needless.  I  cannot  doubt  of 
your  confidence  that  you  have  a  deep  share  in  my  tenderest 
aflections  :  for  this  let  my  labours  among  you,  and  the  haz- 
ards for  you,  speak,  rather  than  I  myself.  Beloved,  I  am, 
withou  a  compliment,  the  devoted  servant  of  your  souls' 
prosperity,  and  the  interest  of  Christ  in  you.  May  the  Lord 
Jesus  be  set  up  higher  in  your  hearts  !  May  his  name  ever 
live  in  you,  and  be  magnified  by  you,  and  I  have  what  I 
ask.  If  this  work  be  not  promoted  among  you,  I  shall  account 
all  my  letters  but  waste  paper,  and  all  my  pains  but  lost  la- 
bour. Brethren,  I  beseech  you,  that  none  of  you  live  to 
yourselves,  for  this  were  directly  to  cross  the  very  end  of 
Christ's  death.  For  therefore  he  died  that  you  should  not 
live  to  yourselves,  ^^2  Cor.  v.  \b^.  Oh  live  to  him  that 
died  for  you  !  Live  to  him  that  is  the  God  of  your  life  ! 
Live  to  him  that  bought  your  lives  with  the  expense  of  his 
own !  To  him  that  bought  you  from  destruction  ;  and  not 
only  so,  but  bought  your  names  into  the  eternal  inheritance, 
reserved  in  the  heavens  for  you.  Will  a  man  be  easily 
persuaded  to  lose  his  life  1  How  infinitely  tender  are  men 
here  !  And  yet,  in  the  worst  sense,  the  most  of  men  do 
lose  their  lives,  yea,  lose  them  for  nothing.  Beloved,  con^ 
sider,  I  beseech  you,  that  life  is  lost  that  is  not  lived  unto 
God  !  If  you  would  not  lose  your  lives  that  you  live,  see 
to  him  who  is  the  end  of  your  lives.  Oh  remember  this, 
and  reckon  that  day  lost  which  you  have  not  lived  unto 
God  !  Brethren  how  great  a  part  of  our  lives  have  we 
really,  alas  !  too  really  lost  1  I  beseech  you  take  heed  !  here 
you  are  careful  about  many  things,  but  beware  that  other 
things  do  not  put  out  this  which  should  be  the  main  of  your 
cares,   to- wit,   the  spending  yowv    days  and   strength    for 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  185 

him  that  made  you.  Would  it  not  be  dreadful  for  a  man  to 
fiijd  at  last  when  he  comes  to  his  account  with  God,  that 
his  whole  life,  or  at  least  the  main  of  it,  had  been  but  dam- 
nable self-seeking  ;  that  a  man  should  have  so  many  years 
all(<wed  hiu)  by  God,  and  he  sliould  at  last  be  found  to  have 
been  but  a  false  and  wicked  servant  that  had  set  up  ior  him- 
self with  his  master's  s-tocks,  and  alienated  his  goods,  and 
turned  them  to  his  own  use  I  Well,  that  you  nmy  thorough- 
ly learn  the  grand  lesson  of  living  unto  God,  take  these 
counsels  : 

First,  S  tile  if  vp mi  your  heart  that  it  is  the  sum  of  all 
your  business  and  blessedness  to  live  iinto  God.  It  is  your 
busiiiess,  for  his  pleasure  you  are  and  were  created.  \^  hat 
have  you  else  to  do  but  to  serve  your  Maker  in  your  general 
and  particular  callings?  "  What  was  the  candle  made  ior," 
saith  one,  "  but  to  be  burnt  ?"  Beloved,  what  else  have  you 
strength  for,  but  fur  God  ?  Doth  he  maintain  his  servants, 
and  shall  not  he  look  for  their  work]  Would  you  endure  it 
that  the  servants  that  you  find  with  meat  and  wages,  should 
set  up  for  themselves  ;  that  they  should  eat  your  bread,  and 
all  the  while  do  their  own  work  ]  Beloved,  God's  service  is 
your  business,  and  he  made  you  and  keeps  you  for  no  other 
end  ;  and  it  is  your  blessedness  too.  Labour  to  be  under 
the  rooted  conviction  of  this  principle,  that  your  very  happi- 
ness lies  in  pleasing  and  honouring  of  God,  Let  the  sense 
of  this  live  fresh  upon  your  hearts,  and  it  will  regulate  your 
whole  course. 

Secondly,  Remember  what  a  dfiuoerous,  yea,  damnable 
thing  it  is  to  live  to  yourselves  :  To  make  it  our  main  care 
and  business  to  please  and  gratify  ourselves,  or  to  have  ap- 
plause from  and  reputation  with  others,  or  to  grow  rich  in 
the  world,  and  greaten  ourselves  and  posterity,  is  the  certain 
evidence  of  a  graceless  heart.  And  though  the  godly  do 
make  God  their  principal  end  in  general,  yet  they  must  know 
that  tor  so  much  of  their  lives  as  is  spent  besides  this  end, 
(which  is  too  much)  they  shall  suffer  loss. 

Thirdly,  Labour  to  keep  alive  upon  yourselves  a  deep  sense 
of  your  strong  obligations  to  God.  Often  think  with  your- 
selves what  a  righteous,  what  a  reasonable  thing  it  is,  that 
you  should,  with  all  that  you  have,  serve  the  Lord.  Belov- 
ed, shall  not  the  vessel  be  for  the  use  of  the  potter  that 
nnade  it  ?  Shall  not  the  servant  trade  for  his  master  with 
whose  goods  he   is  entrusted  I     Do  you  not  fetch  all  your 


186  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XV.) 

bread  from  God's  door  ?  Is  not  he  the  Rock  that  begat  you  ; 
the  author  of  your  being  and  well-being?  Is  not  this  he 
that  can  crucify  you  or  release  you  ;  can  save  you  or  damn 
you  at  his  pleasiire  ?  Is  it  not  from  him  that  you  fetch 
every  breath?  Your  interest  obliges  you  to  please  him. 
Why  should  Belshazzar^s  charge  be  against  you? — that  the 
God  in  whose  baud  your  breath  is,  and  whose  are  all  your 
ways,  you  have  not  glorified.   (Dan.  v.  23.) 

Fourthly,  JJo  not  only  interid  God  as  the  general  end  of 
ijoiir  course,  hut  in  eveiy  solemn  action  actually  mind  your 
end.  Though  a  man  need  not,  cannot,  think  of  his  journey's 
end  at  every  step,  yet  with  care  he  might  come  to  this,  in 
every  solemn  action  particularly  and  expressly  to  mind  his 
end.  A  man  cannot  (or  need  he)  think  at  ej-ery  bit  that 
he  puts  into  his  mouth,  "  I  will  eat  this  for  God  :"  yet  he 
might,  every  time  he  sits  down  to  his  table,  remember  to 
eat  and  drink,  not  to  gratify  his  flesh,  but  lo  glorify  God.  by 
getting  strength  for  his  work.  You  cannot  think  of  it  in 
every  step  in  your  journey,  but  without  intending  some 
glory  to  God  by  serving  his  will  in  your  place  and  station  ; 
and  so  in  your  visits  and  labours. 

Fifthly,  Every  morning  let  this  he  your  first  and  firm  re- 
solution, "/  ivill  set  forth  this  day  in  the  name  of  God.^* 
Your  first  and  last  thoughts  are  of  greatest  consequence  ; 
and  therefore  I  advise  you  to  begin  and  end  with  this: 
whenever  you  lie  down,  say  in  yourselves,  "I  will  make  use 
of  my  bed  as  an  ordinance  of  God,  that  a  servant  of  his  may 
be  refreshed  and  fitted  for  his  work."  Whenever  you  rise 
up,  think,  "I  will  spend  this  day  for  God,  and  follow  the 
business  of  my  calling,  because  I  am  so  appointed  of  God." 
(Zech.  X,  12.)  And  they  shall  walk  up  and  down  in  his 
name,  saith  the  Lord.  <^'C. 

Beloved,  I  design  the  sweetness  and  comfort,  as  well  as 
strictness  of  your  lives.  Live  to  God  as  you  are  directed, 
and  you  shall  marvellously  prosper  in  both.  I  am  not  sure 
yet,  whether  or  not  I  shall  see  you  at  the  assizes,  which  I 
earnestly  desire  to  do.  I  leave  all  things  to  our  Father's 
wise  disposal,  and  commending  you  to  God,  I  divide  my 
loves  among  you,  and  so  rest 

Yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
Fbom  the  Prison  at  Juri  Chester, 
Nov.  14,  1663. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  187 

LETTER  XVI. 

[Motives  to  set  ourselves  to  please  God.] 

To  my  most  dearly  beloved,  ike  servanis  of  Christ  in  Tauii' 
ion,  Grace  and  Peace. 

Most  Dear  Christians. — Your  prisoner  in  the  Lord  sa- 
luteth  you  with  all  dearuess ;  you  are  the  care  of  my  heart, 
the  desire  of  my  eyes,  the  joy  of  my  bonds,  and  the  sweet 
of  my  liberty.  I  am  much  satisfied  in  the  wise  disposal  of 
our  Heavenly  Father,  whether  he  see  it  good  for  me  to  be 
a  bondman,  or  a  Ireeman,  so  I  may  but  serve  your  souls 
to  the  greatest  advantage.  Methinks  1  begin  to  feel  in  myself, 
more  than  ever,  the  benefit  of  your  prayers  ;  the  influences  of 
heaven,  through  the  riches  of  free  grace  (to  which  alone  be 
the  praise,)  being  more  fully  sensible,  and  sweet  upon  me. 
1  hope  the  Lord  will  restore  us  one  to  another  in  his  time, 
much  better  than  when  we  parted  :  in  the  mean  time,  see  that 
you  stand  fast  in  the  hope  of  the  gospel.  The  Lord  taketh 
infinite  care  for  you  ;  see  that  it  be  your  care,  the  care  of 
your  very  hearts,  to  please  the  Lord.  Set  your  hearts  to  it 
as  the  business  of  your  lives,  and  the  very  end  of  your  beincrs, 
to  walk  worthy  of  the  Lord  uuto  all  well-pleasing.  Set  home 
on  yourselves  such  considerations  as  these  : 

First,  It  is  the  very  business  you  u-ere  made  for,  and  sent 
into  the  world  for,  to  please  your  J\laker.  For  his  pleasure 
you  are,  and  were  created.  Why  should  the  Lord  repent 
that  he  hath  made  you?  (Gen.  vi.  6.)  What  treacherous 
and  damnable  falsehood  is  this,  that  when  the  Lord  hath 
given  us  breath  and  being,  and  sent  us  into  the  world  on 
purpose  on  his  service,  we  should,  like  false  and  wicked 
servants,  set  up  for  ourselves  ?  Why  should  your  Creator 
say,  he  hath  made  you  in  vain  1 

Secondly,  If  you  set  your  hearts  to  please  the  Lord,  you 
are  sure  you  shall  please  him.  It  is  not  so  with  men,  all 
the  care  in  the  world  will  not  suffice  to  please  some  men. 
How  often  do  princes  forsake  their  greatest  favowrites  ?  So 
that  if  you  set  to  please  men,  you  are  not  sure  to  attain  your 
end  at  last  ;  yea,  rather  you  are  sure  not  to  attain  it.     But 


1(^8  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XVI.) 

if  the  Lord  doth  see  your  very  hearts  to  be  set  to  please  him, 
he  will  accept  you,  though  you  come  short.  (2  Cor.  viii. 
12.)   Read  that  sweet  passage,  2  ("hron.  vi.  3,  6,  7. 

Thirdly,  It  will  be  a  certain  sign  of  your  sincerity  when 
the  pleasing  of  the  Lord  is  your  greatest  business.  (Col. 
i.  lo. )  To  such  the  promise  runs,  Isa  Ivi.  4,  5.  It  is  a 
distinguishing  evidence,  truly  to  seek  and  prize  God's 
favour,  more  than  corn  and  wine.     (Psal.  iv.  6,  7.) 

Fourthly,  This  ivill  set  all  in  order,  and  bring  all  your 
business  to  a  head,  when  you  have  set  down  this  as  the  one 
thing  necessary,  that  you  are  resolved  to  please  the  Lord,  this 
iiiill  reixulute  your  whole  lives,  and  bring  cdl  your  business 
into  a  little  compass.  A  Christian  hath  but  one  thing  to  do 
in  all  conditions,  and  that  is  to  carry  it  so  in  his  present 
state,  as  that  he  may  please  God.  A  man-plea-^er  !  —  O  how 
many  hath  he  to  please!  What  an  endless  work  hath  such 
an  one  to  do  ! 

Fifthly,  Consider  hut  how  careful  the  man-pleasing  pa- 
rasite, and  timeserving  hypocrite,  is  to  please  men  :  And 
shall  not  we  take  as  much  care  to  please  our  God  ?  Oh 
how  doth  the  flattering  courtier  study  the  humour  of  his 
prince  !  Be  you  as  careful  to  study,  and  to  be  acquainted 
with,  the  mind  of  God.  What  will  not  men  do  to  screw 
themselves  into  the  favour  of  the  migiity  ?  Oh  that  you 
were  but  as  diligent,  and  unwearied,  and  punctual  in  your 
endeavours,  to  get  and  keep  the  favour  of  the  \lmighty  ! 

Sixthly,  Consider  whose  favour  or  displeasure  is  of  that 
consequence  to  you,  as  the  Lord's  is  of.  What,  if  men 
should  be  angry  with  you, — have  they  the  keys  of  hell  and 
of  death  ]  No,  no  ;  fear  them  not.  Can  they  undo  your 
souls?  Can  thev  send  you  to  hell?  Alas!  they  cannot. 
See  that  you  dread  His  displeasure  that  can.  Alas  !  what 
will  their  favour  avail  you?  If  they  be  pleased,  can  they 
stand  between  the  wrath  of  God  and  you  \  Can  they  par- 
don your  sins,  save  your  souls,  secure  your  eternal  con- 
cernments ?  Where  is  all  their  favour  or  good  will,  when 
they  or  you  come  to  die?  It  will  not  be  worth  a  rush, 
when  most  needed.  Therefore,  beloved  brethren,  whatever 
you  do,  keep  in  with  God.  Resolve  upon  it.  Hemust  be 
pleased,  though  all  the  world  be  displeased.  Let  it  be 
enough  to  you  to  have  his  good-will:  Let  this  be  the 
one  thing  that  vou  bend  yourselves  to  seek  ;  and  if  you  set 
to   seek   it,  you  may  be  sure  to   find  it.     The  messenger 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  189 

stays  for  me,  and  so  I  must  here  shut  up  my  letter,  as  Jude 
doth  his — Fe,  beloved,  buildtng  up  yourselves  in  your  most 
holy  faith,  praying  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  keep  yourselves  in 
the  love  of  God,  looking  for  the  mercy  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  unto  eternal  life.  Unto  his  grace  I  command  you 
all,  and  shall  add  nothing  but  to  share  my  loves  among 
you,  and  so  rest, 

Your  ambassador  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

JuELC HESTER,  Nov.  22,  1663. 


LETTER  XVII. 


[The  worth  of  holiness.] 


To  the  beloved  people,  the  flock  of  God  in  Taunton,  grace 
and  peace. 

Most  Dear  Friends  and  Brethren, — I  am  now  a 
prisoner  of  the  Lord  for  you  Gentiles,  and  therefore  have 
sent  these  few  lines,  to  beseech  you  by  these  bonds,  which 
I  gladly  endure  for  your  sakes,  to  hold  forth  and  hold  fast 
the  profession  of  your  faith  without  wavering.  The  Lord 
make  you  stedfast  in  the  holy  doctrine  wherein  you  have 
been  taught.  I  have  not  shunned  to  declare  unto  you  the 
whole  counsel  of  God.  O  remember  that,  by  the  space  of 
eight  years,  I  ceased  not  to  warn  you  every  one  ;  and  kept 
back  nothing  that  was  profitable  unto  you,  but  have  taught 
you  publicly,  and  from  hotise  to  house,  warning  every  man, 
and  teaching  every  man,  that  I  might  present  every  man 
perfect  in  Christ  Jesus.  Oh  that  impenitent  sinners  would 
yet  remember  the  invitations,  and  the  obsecrations,  and  the 
obtestations,  that  they  have  had !  Have  they  not  been 
sought  unto?  Have  they  not  been  entreated  ?  Have  they 
not  been  followed  from  the  public,  to  their  own  houses? 
Hath  not  the  word  been  brought  to  their  doors?  Hath  not 
mercy  wooed  them  ?  Have  they  not  been  called  under  the 
wings  of  mercy  ?  And  yet  they  would  not.  Oh  that  they 
would  consider  it  now  in  the  latter  days!  (Jer.  xxiii.  20.) 
Oh  that  they  would  remember,  and  repent,  that  there  mijj,ht 

17 


190  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XVII.) 

be  yet  an  after-harvest !  That  they  would  yet  come  in  and 
live  !  Are  you  yet  willing  to  turn  ?  Hear  how  ^V  i.-.dom 
calls  after  you.  (Prov.  xi.)  How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  will 
you  love  simplicity,  and  fools  hate  knoivledge  ?  Turn  you 
at  my  reproof?  But  if  they  will  not  hear,  good  were  it  for 
thetn  that  they  had  never  been  born  :  It  shall  be  more 
tolerable  and  better  for  Sodom  and  Gomorrah  than  for  them. 
But  for  you  that  have  tiiken  upon  you  the  profession  of 
strict  godliness,  I  shall  only  press  you  to  follow  on,  and 
press  towards  the  mark.  You  have  much  work  yet  to  do, 
and  God  hath  given  you  no  time  to  loiter  in.  I  beseech 
you  to  put  on.  That  person  that  sits  down  when  he  hath 
gotten  to  that  pitch  that  he  thinks  uill  bring  him  to  heaven, 
is  never  like  to  come  thither.  Grace  is  one  of  those  things 
that  saith,  it  never  hath  enough.  Let  me  urge  upon  you 
the  Apostle's  counsel.  (Heb.  xii.  14.)  Jollow  ajter  holiness. 
t  irst,  Holiness  is  the  choicest  ornament :  It  is  an 
adorning  in  the  sight  of  God  of  great  price.  It  is  the  glory 
of  God,  and  will  you  count  it  your  shame?  (Exodus,  xv.) 
God  is  glorious  in  holiness,  and  grace  is  called  glory.  (2 
Cor.  iii.  18.)  But  we  may  now  cry  out  as  the  Psalmist,  in 
his  complaint,  O  ye  sons  of  men,  how  long  will  ye  turn  my 
glory  into  shame  ?  (Ps.  iv.  2.)  But  be  of  good  comfort, 
the  shame  of  holiness  is  real  glory.  How  confidently  doth 
Paul  shake  his  chain  !  (Acts  xxviii.  20.)  We  read  of 
some  that  did  glory  in  their  shame,  in  a  sad  sense,  that  is, 
in  that  which  was  real  ground  of  shame,  to  wit,  their  sin. 
(Phil  lii.  19.)  But  we  meet  with  others  that,  in  a  happy 
sen.-e,  did  glory  in  their  shame  ;  that  i.s,  in  the  !=;hame  of 
religion,  which  is  indeed  a  crown  of  glory.  So  did  Peter 
and  John.  (Acts  v.  41.) 

Secondly,  Holiness  is  the  safest  monument.  Grace  is 
not  only  for  ornament,  but  tor  use.  Righteousness  is  a 
breast- plate  that  keeps  the  vitals,  and  is  a  sure  defence  from 
any  mortal  wounds.  (Ephes.  vi.  14  )  When  the  poli- 
ticians have  done  their  best,  with  all  their  politic  letches,  it 
is  to  he  that  walketh  uprightly,  that  walketh  snrely.  (Prov. 
X.  19.)  Lei  integrity  and  vprightness  jireserve  me,  saith 
David.  (Ps.  XXV.  21.)  I  desire  no  other  protection  than 
innocency.  i  desire  to  be  no  longer  safe  than  these  can 
preserve  me.  When  I  must  let  go  my  integrity  or  my 
safety,  I  will  choose  the  danger  rather  than  my  sin  ;  and 
yet  will  never  doubt  but  my  integrity  will  save  me  harmless, 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  191 

and  prevent  me  for  ever  coming  off  a  loser.  Never  persuade 
me  that  that  man  doth  choose  wisely,  or  will  consult  his 
own  safety,  that  runs  upon  the  displeasure  of  the  infinite 
God,  who  is  a  devouring  fire,  to  flee  the  danger  of  man's 
displeasure.  Did  you  ever  read  or  hear  of  a  man  so  mad 
as  to  run  upon  the  sword's  point,  to  avoid  the  scratch  of  a 
pin?  Or  to  run  upon  a  roaring  cannon,  rather  than  en- 
danger his  beinir  wetshot?  ^Vhy,  this  is  the  best  wisdom 
of  the  distracted  world,  who  will  sin  rather  than  suffer,  and 
to  save  themselves  harmless  in  the  world,  will  run  upon 
God,  even  upon  his  neck,  and  the  thick  bosses  of  his  buck- 
ler.     (Job.  XV.  25,  26.) 

Thirdly,  Holiness  will  be  found  to  be  your  real  happi- 
Dess.  Eat  of  this  tree,  and  you  shall  indeed  be  as  God. 
Godliness  is  like  God's  likeness.  The  beauty  of  holiness 
is  this  very  image  ;  sin  is  the  disease  of  which  holiness  is 
the  cure.  Pride  is  the  tympany,  passion  the  fever  of  the 
mind  ;  how  restlessly  raging  is  the  mind  where  ihey  reign  ? 
Holiness,  humility,  meekness,  are  a  present  ease,  a  present 
cure,  if  the  patient  can  take  but  enough.  O  what  peace 
and  tranquility  doth  holiness  work  in  the  mind  !  Great 
peace  have  they  that  love  thy  commandments,  and  nothing 
shall  offend  them.  (Psalm  cxix.  165.)  Read  Isa.  xlviii.  18,  22, 
and  XX  vi.  3,  andxxxii.  17.  Holiness  will  be  a  treasure  of  riches 
(James  ii.  5),  and  a  crown  of  honour  (x\cts  xvii.  11 ),  a 
paradise  of  pleasure  to  you.  (Prov.  iii.  17.)  In  a  word, 
holiness  is  the  perfection  of  man's  nature  (Heb.  xii.  21), 
the  communication  of  the  divine  nature  (2  Peter  i.  4),  the 
earnest  of  glory  (Mat  v.  8),  and  the  very  entrance  of  hea- 
ven, (Phil.  iii.  2U.) 

Let  me  say  now  to  every  one  of  you,  as  our  Saviour  to 
Martha  (John  xi.  26,)  "Believest  thou  this  1"  If  you  do, 
live  like  believers  ;  and  do  you  follow  after  holiness,  as  others 
follow  their  trades  or  studies.  Let  religion  be  your  studies, 
and  not  a  thing  by-the-by  with  you.  Follow  as  hard  upon 
the  pursuit  of  grace,  as  if  you  did  indeed  believe  riches  and 
honour  were  in  it.  Count  yourselves  well,  as  long  as  you 
keep  within  the  line  of  your  duty.  Let  holiness  sit  in  your 
lips,  and  season  all  your  speech  with  grace.  Profess  it,  own 
it,  plead  stoutly  and  resolve  for  it ;  be  your  advocates  for 
holiness,  in  an  adulterous  and  wicked  generation.  Wear  it 
as  a  robe  of  honour,  when  the  spiteful  world  cast  the  dung 
of  their  reproaches  at  you  for  it.     Let  it  dwell  in  your  hearts. 


192 


CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XVII.) 


Let  it  adorn  your  houses.  Let  it  be  your  companion  in  your 
closets.  Let  it  travel  with  you  in  your  journies.  Let  it  lie 
down  and  rise  up  with  you.  Let  it  close  your  eyes  in  the 
evening,  and  call  you  out  of  your  beds  in  the  morning.  Be 
you  the  votaries  of  holiness.  Keep  her,  and  she  shall  keep 
you. 

I  shall  close  with  my  loves  to  you  all,  only  because  I 
know  you  love  to  hear  of  my  welfare.  I  must  tell  you  that 
goodness  and  mercy  do  fol'ow  me  perpetually  every  day,  and 
every  night. — Glory  to  God  in  the  highest !  Dear  brethren, 
fare  you  well  in  the  Lord. 

I  am, 

Your  devoted  servant  in  the  gospel, 

Whether  a  bond-man  or  a  free, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
Dec.  3,  1663. 

Most  Dearly  Beloved, — This  was  intended  for  you  a 
week  sooner  than  it  comes  to  be  communicated.  I  purpose- 
ly write  in  the  middle  of  the  week,  that  if  any  opportunity 
be  suddenly  offered,  I  may  have  somewhat  ready  for  you. 
But  last  week  I  failed  of  a  conveyance.  I  shall  not  add  any- 
thing further  now,  but  that  I  shall  follow  my  counsels  with 
my  prayers,  and  shall  be  a  humble  intercessor  night  and  day 
before  God  for  you.  To  him  I  commend  you,  and  t<j  the 
word  of  his  grace, 

Bemainiug  yours  while  I  am, 

J.  A. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  193 

LETTER  XVIil. 

[I.  Try.     2.  Rejoice.] 

To  the  most  lovins;,  and  best  beloved,  the  Flock  of  Christ  in 
Taunton,  grace  and  peace. 

Most  Endeared  Friends, — My  heart  is  solii^itous  for 
you.  Your  spiritual  and  eternal  welfare  is  the  matter  of  my 
desires  and  designs.  Let  not  my  beloved  think  they  were 
forgotten  by  me,  because  you  heard  not  from  me  the  last 
week.  Sleep  departed  from  my  eyes  to  write  to  you  at  large  ; 
but,  in  the  morning,  I  concluded  it  best  to  deter  the  impart- 
ing of  it  to  you  for  a  season,  that  you  might  have  it  a  better 
way.  Can  a  woman  forget  her  child,  that  she  should  not 
have  compassion  on  the  sou  of  her  womb  1  Yea,  they  may 
forget  ;  but  Christ  will  earnestly  remember  you  still.  Nat- 
ural parents  may  be  so  far  unnatural  ;  spiritual  parents  may 
be  so  far  carnal,  as  to  forget  their  own  children.  I  would 
have  you  count  nothing  as  certain  but  Christ's  love  and  care. 
This  you  may  build  upon.  You  need  not  fear  lest  time  and 
distance  should  wear  out  the  remembrance  of  you  with  him. 
Your  names  are  enrolled  in  the  everlasting  decrees  of  hea- 
ven, and  a  whole  eternity  hath  not  been  able  to  wear  them 
out. 

Do  any  of  your  question  whether  you  are  so  happy  as  to 
have  your  names  recorded  above?  I  shall  bring  it  to  a 
speedy  issue.  Do  you  question  whether  Christ  hath  taken 
your  names  ?  Whether  you  are  upon  his  heart  ?  Let  me 
ask  you,  Is  heaven  upon  your  hearts?  Is  the  name  of  Jesus 
deeply  engraven  upon  your  souls?  Is  his  image  and  super- 
scription there?  If  you  can  find  that  heaven  is  the  main  of 
your  cares,  that  your  hearts  are  set  upon  it  as  your  home 
and  your  country,  and  that  it  is  your  great  business  to  seek 
it  and  to  secure  it,  then  never  doubt,  if  your  hearts  be 
chiefly  upon  heaven,  your  names  are  unquestionably  written 
in  heaven.  Again,  halh  ('hrist  recorded  his  name  in  your 
hearts  ?  Is  the  name  of  Jesus  the  beloved  name  with  you  ; 
precious  above  all  ;  next  to  your  hearts  ?  Is  there  no  other 
name  under  heaven  so  dear  and  sweet  to  you  ?     What  room 


194  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XVIII.) 

hath  Christ  in  you  ?  If  anything  be  deeper  in  your  hearts 
than  He  is,  you  are  unsound.  As  ihe  Father  hath  given 
him,  so  do  your  hearts  give  him  a  name  above  every  name. 
Is  Christ  uppermost  with  you  in  your  estimations  aud  affec- 
tions? Then  rejoice  and  leap  for  joy,  for  your  names  are 
most  precious  with  Christ,  if  his  name  be  above  all  dear  to 
you.  Once  more,  hath  Christ  drawn  out  his  own  similitude 
upon  you?  Is  Christ  within  you  ?  Doth  h^'  dwell  in  your 
hearts?  Then  be  sure  you  have  a  room  in  his  hi^ art.  The 
image  of  Christ  is  in  holiness.  Is  this  that  which  your 
very  hearts  are  set  upon  ?  Do  you  thirst  for  holiness?  Do 
you  follow  alter  holiness?  Do  you  prize  it  above  all  pros- 
perity and  worldly  greatness  ?  Do  you  hate  every  sin,  and 
long  to  be  rid  of  it  as  your  most  irksome  burden,  and  use  all 
God's  means  against  it,  as  far  as  you  know  them  ?  If  it  be 
thus  with  you  Christ  hath  set  his  stamp  upon  your  hearts, 
and  so  you  may  be  sure  he  hath  set  you  as  a  seal  upon  his 
heart. 

Rejoice  then,  O  Christians,  and  bless  yourselves  in  the 
happy  privilege  that  you  have,  in  being  under  Christ's  care. 
Fear  not,  little  flock  ;  stronger  is  He  that  is  with  you  than 
he  that  is  against  you.  What !  though  Satan  should  raise 
all  his  militia  against  you,  adhere  to  Christ  in  a  patient 
doing  and  suffering  his  pleasure,  and  he  shall  secure  you. 
The  Lord  will  not  forsake  you,  because  it  hath  pleased  the 
Lord  to  make  you  his  people  :  God  hath  entrusted  you  with 
his  Son  :  You  are  his  care  and  his  charge.  Many  will  be 
lifting  at  you,  many  will  be  plucking  at  you  ;  but  fear  not ; 
you  shall  not  be  moved,  none  shall  pluck  you  out  of  Christ's 
hand  ;  He  hath  all  power  (Mat.  xxviii.  8).  Can  Omnipo- 
tence secure  you  ?  He  is  all  treasures  (Col.  ii.  3).  Can  un- 
searchable riches  suffice  you  ?  In  a  word,  he  is  all  fulness 
(Col.  i.  21).  Can  all  content  you?  Can  fulness  fill  you? 
If  so,  you  are  blessed,  and  shall  be  blessed. 

Beloved,  we  lose  unutterably  for  want  of  considering,  for 
want  of  viev/ing  our  own  privileges  and  blessedness.  0  man, 
is  Chrst  thine,  and  yet  dost  thou  live  at  a  low  rate  and 
comfort?  Is  thy  name  written  in  heaven,  and  yet  dost  thou 
not  rejoice?  Shall  the  children  of  the  kingdom,  the  candi. 
dates  of  glory,  the  chosen  generation,  the  royal  priesthood, 
be  like  other  men  ?  O  Christians,  remember  who  and  whence 
you  are,  consider  your  obligations,  put  on  a  better  pace  ;  be-^ 
stir  yourselves,  run  and  wrestle,  and  be  strong  for  the  Lord 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  195 

of  hosts  ;  and  earnestly,  yet  peaceably,  contend  for  the  faith 
once  delivered  to  his  saints.  What !  shall  we  make  nothing 
of  all  God  hath  said  and  done  for  us?  Christians,  shall  he 
that  hath  gotten  an  enriching  office  boast  of  his  booty?  Or 
he  that  hath  obtained  the  king's  patent  for  an  earldom,  glory 
in  his  riches  and  honour?  And  shall  the  grant  of  heaven 
signify  little  with  thee  ?  Or  Christ's  patent  for  thy  son. 
ship  and  partnership  with  himself  be  like  a  cypher?  Shall 
Haman  come  hone  from  the  banquet  with  a  glad  heart,  and 
glorying  in  the  greatness  of  his  riches,  the  multitude  ot  his 
children,  and  all  the  things  wherein  the  king  had  promoted 
him  above  the  princes?  And  shall  we  turn  over  our  Bibles 
and  read  the  promises,  and  find  it  under  God's  ovn  hand, 
that  he  intends  the  kiiigdom  for  us,  that  he  will  be  a  Father 
to  us,  that  he  gives  and  grants  all  his  infinite  perfections  to 
us,  and  yet  not  be  moved?  Beloved  Christians,  live  like 
yourselves  ;  let  the  world  see  that  the  promises  of  God,  and 
privileges  of  the  gospel,  are  not  empty  sounds,  or  a  mere 
crack.  Let  the  heavenly  cheerfulness  and  the  restless  dili. 
gence,  and  the  holy  raisedness  of  your  conversations,  prove 
the  reality,  excellency,  and  beauty  of  your  religion  to  the 
world.  Forget  not  your  prisoner.  Labour  earnestly  for  me 
in  your  prayers,  who  am  night  and  day  labouring  and  suf- 
fering for  you.  I  can  never  bless  God  enough  for  his  most 
tender  and  indulgent  care  for  you,  which  appears  so  wonder- 
fully in  his  fatherly  protection,  and  his  fatherly  provision. 
See  that  you  receive  not  the  grace  of  God  in  vain.  Remem- 
ber with  trembling,  that  of  our  Lord,  To  lohoni  much  is  given 
of  him  much  shall  he  required.  With  my  most  dear  loves  to 
you  all,  I  commend  you  to  your  Father  and  my  Father,  your 
God  and  my  God,  remaining 

Yours  in  all  manner  of  obligations 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  in  Juelche-ter, 
Januai7/'20,  1663^ 


196  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XIX.) 

LETTER  XIX. 

[The  Felicity  of  Believers.] 

To  the  most  beloved  people,  the  servants  of  God  in  Taunton, 
salvation. 

Most  Endearkd  Christians, — I  have  longed  and  waited 
for  a  little  breathing  time,  wherein  I  might  write  unlo  you, 
but  I  have  been  oppressed  hitherto  with  so  many  cares,  and 
such  a  throng  of  business,  that  till  now  (and  scarcely  now) 
I  have  had  no  time  for  respiration,  wherein  I  might  suffi- 
ciently reflect  on  you  or  myself.  But  ahhough  so  great  a 
part  of  Taunton  be  translated  to  Juelchester  with  me,  yet  I 
may  not,  I  cannot  forget  that  you  are  behind. 

"  Alas,  poor  Taunton,  how  should  I  bewail  thee,  did  I 
look  upon  the  only  with  the  eye  of  sense  !  Alas  for  thy 
wonted  liberties,  for  thy  former  plenty  and  variety,  where- 
with the  Lord  hath  blessed  thee !  He  hath  spread  a  table 
for  thee  in  the  midst  of  thine  enemies  ;  bread  hath  been 
given  thee,  and  thy  waters  have  been  sure.  But  now  a 
famine  seems  to  threaten  thee  ;  and  the  comforters  that 
should  relieve  thy  soul  are  far  from  thee.  Thy  shepherds 
are  removed.  Thou  seest  not  thy  signs,  nor  thy  prophets  ; 
and  thy  wonted  helpers  are  now  disabled  from  giving  thee 
supplies.  Alas,  how  do  thine  enemies  triumph,  aiid  thy 
teachers  and  thine  inhabitants  are  become  their  captives  ! 
And  how  great  is  the  city  of  thy  poor,  and  thine  oppressed  !" 

Such  would  be  the  laniruage  of  sense,  if  that  were  suffered 
to  be  the  speaker.  But  faith  will  speak  in  another  dialect. 
And  therefore,  amongst  my  other  counsels  that  I  shall  send 
you,  this  shall  be  the  first  : 

Judo'e  not  of  the  present  providences  hy  the  conduct  of 
sense,  hut  hy  the  eye  of  faith.  Faith  will  see  that  we  are  then 
most  honoured,  when  we  are  most  vilified,  and  reproached, 
and  set  at  nought  tor  the  sake  of  Christ ;  and  that  we  are  then 
most  happy,  when  the  world  hath  done  its  worst  to  make 
us  miserable.  Faith  will  tell  you,  that  God  is  a  very  pre- 
sent help  when  you  seem  quite  to  fail  of  help,  and  will  shew 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  197 

you  the  well  of  water  that  is  near  when  the  water  in  the 
bottle  is  spent.  What!  though  you  seem  to  have  lost  minis- 
ters, husbands,  friends  for  a  season  ;  faith  will  tell  you  that 
they  are  well  bestowed,  and  that  it  will  be  both  your  and 
their  advantage  in  the  day  of  retribution. 

Brethren,  what  are  you  l"or  ?  Are  you  for  the  present 
world,  or  for  that  to  come  ?  Are  you  for  your  temporal  en- 
joyments, or  do  you  seek  for  glory,  honour,  and  immortal- 
ity ?  If  you  are  for  this  world,  you  have  made  a  very  im- 
prudent choice  in  taking  up  the  profession  of  godliness, 
and  cleaving  to  and  owning  the  hated  ways  of  the  Lord. 
But  if  you  are  for  glory,  and  for  eternity,  then  be  of  good 
cheer;  all  these  things  do  make  for  us.  You  are  witnesses, 
how  often  I  have  told  you  of  these  things,  and  I  can  say 
with  the  apostle,  "  I  believed,  therefore  have  I  spken,"  and 
therefore  I  am  nothing  moved  with  all  these  things,  nor  with 
the  things  that  do  yet  further  abide  me.  I  believed,  and 
therefore  I  told  you,  that  you  should  never  be  losers  by  Jesus 
Christ.  Nay,  do  I  say,  I  told  it  you  ? — You  know  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ  hath  shewed  you,  that  the  persecuted  are  doubly 
blessed  ;  that  such  should  rejoice,  and  leap  for  joy,  because 
great  is  their  reward  in  heaven.  Hath  not  God  said,  that 
if  we  suffer  with  him  we  shall  also  reign  with  him  ;  and 
that  these  light  afflictions  work  for  us  a  weight  of  glory  ? 
And  if  this  be  true,  I  pray  you  tell  me  whether  God  hath  not 
dealt  well  with  us  in  counting  us  worthy  of  this  little  tribu- 
lation for  his  name  ?  Indeed,  the  sufferings  are  but  little  ; 
but  verily  the  reward  will  not  be  little.  I  know  whom  I 
have  trusted  :  I  am  well  assured  the  glass  is  turned  up, 
and  every  hour  reckoned  of  our  imprisonment,  and  every 
scorn  and  reproach  of  our  enemies  is  kept  in  black  and 
white.  I  believe,  therefore  do  I  speak;  God  is  infinitely 
tender  of  us,  my  brethren,  though  a  poor  and  despicable 
generation.  I  value  not  the  pop-gun  threats  of  a  frowning 
world  ;  it  is  well  with  us,  we  are  God's  favourites.  Come, 
my  beloved,  let  us  sit  down  under  his  shadow  :  Here  is 
safety  and  rest ;  if  God  be  for  us,  who  can  be  against  us  ? 
Verily  He  bottles  all  our  tears,  and  tells  all  our  wanderings : 
He  numbers  all  our  hairs  ;  whosoever  toucheth  us  shall  not 
be  innocent.  Know  you  not  that  we  are  the  apple  of  his 
eye  ?  Hath  not  he  reproved  the  greatest  for  his  people's 
sakes,  saying,  "Reproach   not  mine  anointed."     And   so 


198  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XIX.) 

we  forget  how  he  loved  us.  Are  not  we  his  jewels  ?  Doth 
He  not  own  us  for  his  members,  for  his  children  ? 

Ah  !  what  a  block  doth  unbelief  make  of  man  !  What ! 
do  you  think  that  all  this  doth  signify  nothing  ?  Can  you 
forget  your  children  ?  Will  you  suffer  your  jewels  to  lie 
in  the  dirt,  or  make  no  reckoning  of  them  whether  they  are 
lost '.' 

Verily  I  write  not  this  without  shaming  reflections  upon 
my  own  stupidity.  What !  beloved  of  God,  adopted  by 
God! — What!  a  member  of  Christ  Jesus!  A  vessel  of 
mercy  !  An  heir  of  glory  !  What !  and  not  yet  swallowed 
up  ia  the  sense  of  God's  infinite  love!  Blush,  oh  my  soul, 
and  be  confounded  before  the  Most  High,  and  cover  thy 
face  with  shame. 

I  remember  what  the  heathen  Seneca  writes,  observing 
the  expressions  of  God's  love  to  man  in  his  common  provi- 
dence, Verum  est,  usque  in  dllicias  amcnnuvy  that  is,  It  is  a 
very  truth  that  we  are  beloved  of  God,  even  as  his  darlings. 

My  brethren,  have  faith  in  God.  Believe  his  promises  : 
Walk  in  the  sense  of  his  love.  Comfort  yourselves  in  God's 
love  towards  you,  under  all  the  hatred  and  envy  of  men, 
and  the  contradiction  of  sinners  that  you  meet  with.  Be 
strong  and  of"  a  good  courage  ;  God  is  for  you.  Be  assur- 
ed that  he  that  walketh  uprightly  walketh  surely  :  Forsake 
not  the  assembling  of  yourselves  touether.  Now  see  that 
you  speak  often  to  one  another,  and  build  up  each  other  in 
the  holy  faith.  God  knows  I  cannot  do  for  you  as  I  would  ; 
I  would  have  been  larger  to  you,  but  I  cannot.  My  most 
dear  loves,  I  desire  you  to  share  among  you.  I  am  greatly 
yours.  The  peace  that  passeth  all  understanding  keep  your 
hearts  and  minds ! 

I  am 

Yours  to  serve  you  and  for  you, 

with  all  readiness  of  mind, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  op  Juelchestbr, 
Jidij  28,  1065. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  199 


LETTER  XX. 

[What  do  you  more  than  others  ?] 

To  the  most  dearly  beloved,  the  Servants  of  God  in  Taun- 
ton, grace  and  peace. 

Most  Loving  and  Entirely  Beloved, — You  are  a 
great  joy  to  me.  I  know  not  what  thanks  to  render  to  the 
Lord  for  you,  when  I  hear  of  your  constancy,  and  fidelity, 
and  zeal,  in  adhering  to  him  and  his  ways,  even  in  such  a 
time  as  this.  You  are  highly  favoured.  Blessed  be  the 
Lord  God  of  Israel,  that  he  hath  regarded  the  low  estates  of 
his  servants;  that  he  should  ever  indulge  you  as  he  hath, 
and  hover  over  you,  even  as  the  eagle  stirreth  up  her  nest,  and 
fiuttereth  over  her  young,  spreadeth  abroad  her  wings,  taketh 
them,  beareth  them  on  her  wings  !  For  so  halh  the  Lord 
your  God  dealt  vvith  you.  He  hath  kept  you  as  the  apple 
of  his  eye  ;  and  since  the  streams  of  Cherith  were  dried  up, 
yet  to  this  day  he  hath  not  suffered  the  handful  of  meal  to 
waste,  nor  the  oil  in  the  cruse  to  fail,  but  (though  you  have 
no  certainty  to  trust  to)  hath  continually  provided  for  you 
to  the  full.  How  should  I  love  and  bless  the  Lord,  for  this 
his  great  grace  towards  you,  while  I  live  !  Now  I  beseech 
you,  my  brethren,  that  you  consider  the  kindness  of  the 
Lord,  for  the  Lord  your  God  is  He  that  careth  for  you  ;  and 
that  you  love  the  Lord  your  God,  and  fear  him  for  ever,  for 
he  is  your  life,  and  the  length  of  your  days.  And  as  Job 
had  a  holy  fear  of  his  children,  lest  they  should  have  offend- 
ed ;  so,  my  most  dearly  beloved,  I  am  jealous  of  you  with  a 
godly  jealousy,  lest  any  of  you  should  receive  this  grace  of 
God  in  vain.  I  must  not  cease  to  put.  you  in  mind,  that 
God  doth  look  for  no  small  matters  from  you.  Remember, 
my  most  endeared  charge,  that  the  Lord  doth  look  for  singu- 
lar things  from  you,  that  there  be  not  a  barren  tree,  nor  a 
dwarf  christian  among  you  ;  where  the  Lord  doth  strew 
much,  he  looks  to  gather  much  ;  and  where  he  soweth 
much,  he  expects  to  reap  accordingly.  Whose  account,  my 
beloved,  is  like  to  be  so  great  as  yours?  O  look  about  you, 
and  think  of  the  Master  coming  to  reckon  with  you  for  his 


200  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XX.) 

talents  ;  when  he  will  expect  no  small  increase.  Beloved, 
what  can  you  do  ?  How  much  are  you  grown  ?  What 
spoil  have  you  made  upon  your  corruptions  !  What  progress 
in  grace  / 

Suppose  (  hrist  should  put  that  awakening  question  to 
you,  "  What  do  you  more  than  others  .'"  Beloved,  God 
doth  expect  more  of  his  people,  than  of  any  others  in  the 
world  besides:     And  well  he  may.     For 

First,  He  hath  bestowed  more  on  them  than  on  others: 
Now  where  much  is  given,  much  shall  be  required  ;  can  you 
think  of  that  without  trembling  ?  He  hath  bestowed  on  them 
singular  love  more  than  on  others  :  You  only  have  I  knoirn 
in  a/I  the  families  on  earth.  He  hath  a  distinguishing  love 
and  favour  for  his  people,  and  he  looks  that  his  love  should 
be  a  constraining  argument  to  obedience.  Again,  he  hath 
laid  out  a  singular  care  on  his  people,  more  than  on  others  : 
He  cares  f')r  no  man,  for  nothing  in  all  the  world,  in  com- 
parison of  them.  He  reproveth  kings  for  their  sakes. — He 
will  give  nations  and  kingdoms  for  their  ransom.  So  pre- 
cious are  they  in  his  sight,  and  so  dearly  beloved-  thai  he 
will  give  men  for  them  and  people  for  their  life.  He  with- 
draweth  not  his  eyes  from  the  righteous,  he  will  not  endure 
them  out  of  his  sight.  The  eyes  of  the  Lord  are  upon  the 
righteous.  And /ir*/,  the  eye  of  his  more  accurate  observa- 
tion :  God  can  wink  at  others,  as  it  were,  and  overlook 
what  they  do  with  little  notice  ;  but  he  hath  a  most  curious 
eye  upon  his  people,  he  marketh  their  steps,  and  booketh 
their  words,  he  weigheth  their  actions,  and  pondereth  all 
their  goings.  And  should  not  they  walk  more  cautiously, 
and  charily,  than  any  alive,  that  they  are  under  so  exact 
and  curious  an  eye  ?  Secondlt/,  the  eye  of  special  care  and 
protection.  Behold  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  them  that 
fear  him.  I  will  guide  thee  with  mine  eye.  And  should 
not  they  be  infinitely  tender  and  careful  how  to  please  the 
Lord,  who  have  his  singular  care  laid  out  on  them  ?  In 
short,  God  hath  bestowed  on  them  singular  privileges  more 
than  on  others.  These  are  a  peculiar  treasure  to  him 
above  all  people,  a  kingdom  of  priests,  a  holy  nation,  a  sin- 
gular separated  people  ;  they  dwell  alone,  they  are  diverse 
from  all  people  When  the  whole  world  lies  in  wickedness, 
these  are  called,  and  chosen,  and  faithful  :  washed,  and 
justified  and  sanctified  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  and 
by  the  Spirit  of  our  God.     The  rest  are  the  refuse  :     These 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  201 

the  jewels.  These  are  taken,  and  they  are  left.  Shall  not 
God's  priests  be  clothed  with  righteousness,  and  shall  not 
princes  live  above  the  rate  of  peasants  ? 

Secondly,  He  hath  entrusted  them  v)iih  more  than  others  : 
Not  only  with  the  talents  of  his  grace  (for  the  increase 
whereof  they  must  give  a  strict  account)  but  also  with  the 
jewel  of  his  glory.  How  tenderly  should  they  walk  that  are 
entrusted  with  such  a  jewel  !  Remember,  your  Maker's 
glory  is  bound  up  in  your  fruitful  walking. 

Thirdly,  He  hath  qnalijied  them  more  than  others  :  He 
hath  put  into  them  a  principle  of  life,  having  quickened  them 
together  in  Christ.  He  hath  set  up  a  light  in  their  minds, 
when  others  lie  in  darkness.  He  hath  given  them  other  aids 
than  others  have,  even  his  Spirit  to  help  their  infirmities, 
when  others  lie  like  vessels  that  are  wind-bound,  and  can- 
not stir. 

Fourthly,  He  hath  provided  for  them  other  manner  of 
ihino-s  than  for  others  :  These  are  the  little  flock  to  whom  it 
is  his  good  pleasure  to  give  the  kingdom  ;  great  are  the  pre- 
parations for  them.  The  Father  hath  prepared  the  kingdom 
for  them  from  the  foundations  of  the  world.  The  Son  is  gone 
to  heaven,  on  purpose  to  prepare  a  place  for  them.  The 
Spirit  is  preparing  them,  and  making  them  meet  to  be  parta- 
kers of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light :  And  should 
these   be  like  other  people? 

Brethren  beloved,  God  and  men  do  expect  you  should  do 
more  than  others,  see  that  you  be  indeed  singular.     For, 

(i.)  If  you  do  no  more  for  God  than  others,  he  will  do 
more  against  you  than  others  ;  You  only  have  I  known, 
therefore  will  I  punish  yon.  The  barren  tree  in  the  vine- 
yard must  down,  whereas  had  he  been  in  the  common,  he 
might  have  stood  much  longer.  God  looked  for  grapes  from 
his  vineyard,  on  which  he  had  bestowed  such  care  and  cost 
more  than  ordinary,  but  when  they  bring  forth  wild  grapes, 
he  will  lay  hem  waste  in  a  worse  manner  than  the  forest 
When  (Jhrist  came  to  the  fig-tree  seeking  fruit,  and  met  with 
none,  he  crust  it  tVom  the  root ;  whereas  had  it  been  a  thora 
or  brauible,  it  might  have  stood  as  before. 

(2.)  If  you  do  no  more  than  others,  you  must  look  for  no 
more  than  others  :  If  you  should  put  olT  God  with  a  common 
obedience,  yet  must  expect  to  be  put  ofT  with  common  mer- 
cies. 

18 


202  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET»   XXI.) 

(3.)  Except  you  do  more  than  others,  God  will  be  dis- 
honoured more  by  you  than  others. 

1  have  been  too  long  with  you,  but  I  am  earnestly  desir- 
ous you  should  be  sensible  of  God's  extraordinary  expecta- 
tions from  you.  And  truly,  as  God  looks  for  more  trom  his 
own  than  others,  so  he  looks  for  more  from  you  than  others, 
even  of  his  own,  because  that  he  hath  done  more :  See  that 
you  be  shining  christians ;  that  you  be  strong  in  tt)e  grace 
of  God  ;  that  you  press  toward  the  mark.  But  1  must  con- 
clude. I  give  my  loves  among  you  all,  being  able  to  add 
no  more,  but  that 

I  am 

Yours  in  fervent  loves  and  longings, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
Jaa.  2,  1663. 


LETTER  XXL 

[Christian  Care,  Faith,  Self-denial.] 

To  the  most  beloved  people,  the  servants  of  God  in  Taunton 
Salvation  : 

Most  Endeared  Christians, — The  reason  why  my  let- 
ters have  not  of  late  come  so  thick  as  formerly  to  you,  is  not 
because  I  forget  to  love  you,  and  to  care  for  you ;  but  be- 
cause I  have  been  busily  taken  up  in  other  labours  of  sundry 
kinds  for  you.  I  am  yours,  and  love  to  be  so;  being  am- 
bitious not  to  have  dominion  over  your  faith,  but  to  be  a 
helper  of  your  joy.  Christ's  officers  are  so  your  rulers  in 
the  Lord,  as  yet  to  preach  not  themselves  but  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  themselves  your  servants  for  Jesus'  sake.  I 
have  no  greater  felicity  under  God,  than  to  serve  the  good  of 
souls.  Brethren  beloved,  how  fares  it  with  your  souls  ?  Are 
they  in  health?  Do  they  prosper?  I  wish  your  temporal 
prosperity.  It  is  a  joy  to  me  to  hear  when  your  trade  doth 
flourish.  But  these  are  very  little  things,  if  we  look  into 
eternity.     Brethren,  my  ambition  for  you  is,  that  you  should 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH     ALLKINE.  203 

be  cedars  among  the  shrubs,  that  from  me  should  sound  out 
the  word  of  the  Lord,  and  that  in  every  place  your  faith  to 
God-ward  should  be  spread  abroad ;  that  Taunton  should  be 
as  a  field  that  the  Lord  hath  blessed  ;  that  you  should  not 
only  have  the  name,  but  the  spirit,  life,  power,  heat,  growth, 
vigour  of  Christianity  among  you.  Let  not  Taunton  only 
have  the  name  to  live,  and  be  noted  for  the  profession  of  re- 
ligion ;  but  see  to  it,  my  brethren,  that  the  kingdom  of  God 
be  with  you.  Oh  that  every  one  of  your  souls  might  be  a 
temple  of  God!  Oh  that  every  one  of  your  families  might 
be  a  church  of  God! 

Beloved,  look  to  it,  that  every  one  that  nameth  the  name 
of  Christ  among  you  do  depart  from  iniquity,  secret  as  well 
as  open,  of  the  heart  as  well  as  of  the  life.  Let  no  man  think 
that  to  make  an  outcry  upon  the  wickedness  of  the  times,  and 
to  be  of  the  professing  party,  will  serve  his  turn  ;  many  go 
to  hell  in  the  company  of  the  wise  virgins.  That  no  man 
may  be  a  self-deceiver,  let  every  man  be  a  self-searcher. 
He  that  keeps  no  day-book  in  his  shop,  and  no  account,  no 
record  in  his  conscience,  his  estate  and  his  soul  will  thrive 
both  alike. 

Beloved,  I  would  that  you  should  remember  whither  you 
are  going.  If  a  man  be  after  a  \'ew  months  to  be  transported 
into  another  country,  never  to  return  more,  he  will  send  over 
whatever  he  can,  and  make  the  best  provision  that  he  may, 
against  he  comes  into  another  country.  Dear  brethren,  you 
are  strangers  and  pilgrims  here,  and  have  but  a  few  months' 
abode  in  this  country  ;  see  that  you  tratfic  much  with  heaven. 
Christ  is  our  common  factor  ;  O  send  over  to  him  what  pos- 
sibly you  can.  Give  alms  plentifully  ;  pray  continually  ; 
be  much  in  meditation  and  consideration  ;  reckon  with  your- 
selves daily;  walk  with  God  in  your  callings;  do  all  the 
duties  of  your  relations  as  unto  God ;  live  not  one  day  to 
yourselves,  but  unto  Christ ;  set  forth  continually  in  his 
name,  so  shall  you  be  continually  transporting  into  another 
world,  and  laying  up  treasure  in  heaven.  And  O  the  bless- 
ed store  that  you  shall  find  there,  after  a  few  years'  diligence 
in  such  a  holy  course  !  Beloved,  while  you  are  here  in  this 
world,  you  are  but  like  a  merchant's  ship  in  a  strange  port, 
the  day  for  your  return  is  set,  and  you  are  to  stay  no  longer 
than  till  your  freight  is  ready.  Be  wise,  know  your  season, 
improve  your  time.  You  are  made  or  marred  for  ever,  as 
you  speed  in  this  one  voyage.     There  is  no  returning  again 


204  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXI.) 

to  this  country  to  mend  a  bad  market.  God  will  call  in  all 
his  talents.  Time  shall  be  no  longer.  Oh  I  come  in,  come 
and  buy  now,  while  the  market  is  open  ;  that  you  that  want, 
may  have  grace  ;  and  you  that  have,  may  have  it  more  abun- 
dantly. Go  and  plead  with  the  Lord  Jesus,  that  he  hath  bid 
you  come,  buy,  and  eat  without  money,  and  without  price  ; 
that  he  hath  counselled  you  to  come  buy  of  him  g"ld,  rai- 
ment, and  eye-salve.  Tell  him  you  are  come  according  to 
his  call,  and  wait  upon  him  for  grace,  for  righteousness,  for 
light,  and  instruction.  Lay  hold  on  his  word,  plead  it,  live 
upon  it.  He  is  worthy  to  be  believed,  worthy  to  be  trusted  ; 
go  out  of  yourselves  to  him,  unlearn  yourselves. 

There  is  a  threefold  foot  that  carnal  self  stands  upon,  our 
own  wisdom,  our  own  righteousness,  our  own  strength  ;  these 
three  feet  must  be  cut  off,  and  we  must  learn  to  have  no 
subsistence  in  ourselves,  but  only  in  Christ,  and  to  stand 
only  on  his  bottom.  Study  the  excellent  lesson  of  self-de- 
nial, self-annihilation.  A  true  Christian  is  like  a  vine  that 
cannot  stand  of  itself,  but  is  wholly  supported  by  the  prop 
it  leans  on.  It  is  no  small  thing  to  know  o\irselves  to  be 
nothing,  of  no  might,  of  no  worth,  of  no  understanding  or 
reality  ;  to  look  upon  ourselves  as  helpless,  worthless,  fool- 
ish, empty  shadows.  This  holy  littleness  is  a  great  matter; 
when  we  find  that  all  our  inventory  amounts  to  nothing  but 
folly,  weakness,  and  beggary  ;  when  we  set  down  ourselves 
for  cyphers,  our  gain  for  loss,  our  excellences  for  very  van- 
ities, then  we  shall  learn  to  live  like  believers.  A  true  saint 
is  like  a  glass  without  a  foot,  that,  set  him  ^vhere  you  will, 
is  ready  to  foil  every  way  till  you  set  him  to  a  prop:  Let 
Christ  be  the  only  support  you  lean  unto.  When  you  are 
thoroughly  emptied  and  nullified,  and  see  all  comeliness  to 
be  but  as  a  withered  flower,  dead,  dried,  and  past  recovery  ; 
then  you  will  be  put  upon  the  happy  necessity  of  going  out 
to  Christ  for  all. 

The  messenger's  haste  forceth  me  abruptly  to  end  here. 
I  can  add  no  more,  but  my  prayers  to  my  counsels  ;  and  so, 
commending  you  to  God  and  the  word  of  his  grace,  I  rest 

The  fervent  well- wilier  of  your  souls, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelciiester, 
April,  16.  1663. 


THE    REV.  JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  205 

LETTER  XXII. 

[Right  Reasons  in  Suffering.] 

To  my  dearly  beloved,  the  flock  of  Christ  in  Taunton,  grace 
and  peace. 

Most  Loving  and  Dearly  Beloved, — I  know  not  what 
thanks  to  render  to  you,  nor  to  God  for  you,  for  all  the  in- 
expressible love  which  I  have  found  in  you  toward  me  ;  and 
not  terminatively  to  me,  but  to  Christ  in  me.  For  I  believe 
it  is  for  his  sake,  as  I  am  a  messenger  and  ambassador  of 
his  to  you,  that  you  have  loved  me  and  done  so  much  every 
way  for  me ;  and  I  think  I  must  say  of  Taunton,  as  the 
psalmist  of  Jerusalem,  If  I  forget  thee,  let  my  right  hand 
forget  her  cunning;  If  I  do  not  remember  thee,  let  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  month. 

I  would  not,  'my  dear  brethren,  that  you  should  be  dejected 
or  discouraged  at  the  late  disappointments  :  For  through 
tlie  goodness  of  God  I  am  not  ;  but  am  rather  more  satisfied 
than  before  ;  and  this  I  can  truly  say,  nothing  doth  sadden 
me  more  than  to  see  so  much  sadness  in  your  faces.  As, 
on  the  contrary,  nothing  doth  comfort  me  so  much,  as  to 
see  your  cheer  and  courage.  Therefore  I  beseech  you,  bre- 
thren, faint  not  because  of  my  tribulation,  nor  of  God's  de- 
lays ;  but  strengthen  the  hands  and  the  feeble  knees.  And 
the  Lord  bolster  up  your  hands,  as  they  did  the  hands  of 
Moses,  that  they  may  not  fall  down  till  Israel  do  prevail. 
Let  us  fear  lest  there  be  some  evil  among  us,  that  God  being 
angry  with  us  doth  send  this  farther  trial  upon  us.  Pray 
earnestly  for  me,  lest  the  eye  of  the  most  jealous  God  should 
discern  that  in  me  which  should  render  me  unfit  for  the 
mercy  you  desire.  And  let  every  one  of  you  search  his 
heart,  and  search  his  house,  to  see  if  there  be  not  cause 
there  :  Let  not  these  disappointments  make  you  to  be  never 
the  less  in  love  with  prayers,  but  the  more  out  of  love  with 
sin.  Let  us  humble  ourselves  under  the  mighty  hand  of 
God,  and  he  shall  exalt  us  in  due  time. 

And  for  the  enemies  of  God,  you  must  know  also  that 
their  foot  shall  slide  in  due  time.     Let  the  servants  of  God 

18* 


206  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XXII.) 

encourage  themselves  in  their  God  ;  For  in  the  things  where- 
in they  deal  proudly,  he  is  above  thein.  Therefore  fret  not 
yourselves  because  of  evil  doers  ;  commit  your  cause  to  him 
that  judgeth  righteously.  Remember  that  you  are  bid,  if 
you  see  oppression  of  the  poor,  and  violent  perverting  of 
judgment  and  justice  in  a  province,  not  to  marvel  at  the 
matter  :  Verily,  there  is  a  God  that  judgeth  in  the  earth. 
And  you  have  the  liberty  of  appeals  :  Rest  in  the  Lord, 
and  wait  patiently  for  him,  and  fret  not  yourselves  because 
of  the  men  that  bring  wicked  devices  to  pass  Take  heed 
that  none  of  you  do,  with  Peter,  begin  to  sink,  now  you 
see  the  waters  rough,  and  the  winds  boisterous.  These 
things  must  not  weaken  your  faith,  nor  cool  your  zeal ;  for 
they  are  great  arguments  for  the  strengthening  of  it.  What 
clearer  evidence  can  there  be  for  the  future  judgment  and 
perdition  of  the  unirodly,  and  coronation  of  the  just  in  another 
life,  than  the  most  unjust  proceedings  that  are  here  upon 
earth  ?  Shall  not  the  Judge  of  all  the  earth  see  right  to  be 
done  ?  We  see  here  nothing  but  confusion  and  disorder, 
the  wicked  receiveth  according  to  the  work  of  the  righteous, 
and  the  innocent  according  to  the  work  of  the  wicked. 
The  godly  perish  and  the  wicked  flourish  ;  these  do  prosper, 
and  those  do  suffer.  What !  can  it  be  ever  thus  ;  No ; 
doubtless,  there  must  be  a  day  when  God  will  judge  the 
world  in  righteousness,  and  rectifv  the  present  disorders, 
and  reverse  the  unrighteous  sentences  that  have  passed 
against  his  servants.  And  this  evidence  is  so  clear,  that 
many  of  the  heathen  philosophers  have  from  this  very  argu- 
ment (I  mean  the  unrighteous  usage  of  the  good)  concluded 
that  there  must  certainly  be  rewards  and  punishments  ad- 
judged by  God  in  another  world. 

Nor  yet  lose  your  zeal  :  Now  is  the  time  that  the  love  of 
many  doth  wax  cold.  But  I  bless  God  it  is  not  so  with 
you  ;  I  am  sure  your  love  to  me  is,  as  true  friends'  should 
be,  like  the  chimneys,  warmest  in  the  winter  of  adversity  ; 
and  I  hope  your  love  to  God  is  much  more,  and  I  would  that 
you  should  abound  yet  more  atid  more.  Where  else  should 
you  bestow  your  loves?  Love  ye  the  Lord,  ye  his  saints, 
and  cling  about  him  the  faster,  now  ye  see  the  world  is  striv- 
ing to  separate  you  from  him.  How  many  nre  they  that  go 
to  knock  off  your  fingers  !  O,  methinks,  I  see  what  tusffing 
there  is.  The  world  is  plucking,  and  the  devil  is  plucking. 
Oh  !  hold  fast,  I  beseech  you  ;  hold  fast,  that  no  man  take 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  207 

your  crown.  Let  the  water  that  is  sprinkled,  yea,  rather 
poured  upon  your  love,  make  it  to  flame  up  the  more.  Are 
you  not  betrothed  unto  Christ?  Oh  remember,  remember 
your  tnarriage-covenaiit  !  Did  you  not  take  him  "  for  richer 
for  poorer,  for  better  for  worse  V  Now  prove  your  love  to 
Christ  to  have  been  a  true  conjugal  love,  in  that  you  can 
love  him  when  most  slighted,  despised,  undervalued,  blas- 
phemed among  men  :  Now  acquit  yourselves,  not  to  have 
followed  Christ  for  the  loaves.  Now  confute  the  accuser  of 
the  brethren,  you  may  be  ready  to  suggest  of  the  best  of  you, 
as  he  did  of  Job,  Doth  he  serve  the  Lord  for  nought  1 
And  let  it  be  seen  that  you  loved  Christ  and  holiness,  purely 
for  their  own  sakes  ;  that  you  can  love  a  naked  Christ  when 
there  is  no  hopes  of  worldly  advantage,  or  promoting  of 
self-interest  in  following  him. 

Yet  beware  that  none  of  you  do  stick  to  the  ways  of  Christ 
and  religion  upon  so  carnal  an  account  as  this,  because  this 
is  the  way  that  you  have  already  taken  up,  and  you  count  it 
a  shame  to  recede  from  your  'principles.  I  am  very  jealous 
lest  some  professors  should  miss  of  their  reward  for  this  ; — 
lest  they  should  be  accounted  turn-coats  and  hypocrites  ; 
therefore  they  will  shew  a  stoutness  of  spirit  in  going  on, 
since  they  have  once  begun,  and  cannot  with  honour  retreat. 
Would  you  choose  holiness  and  strictness,  if  it  were  to  do 
again  1  Would  you  enter  yourselves  among  God's  poor 
people,  if  it  were  now  first  to  do  ?  Would  you  have  taken 
up  the  profession  of  Christ,  though  you  had  foreseen  all  this 
that  is  come  and  coming  ?  This  will  do  much  to  evidence 
your  sincerity.  But  I  forget  that  I  am  writing  a  letter,  being 
prone  to  pass  all  bounds  when  I  have  thus  to  do  with  you. 
The  Lord  God  remember  and  reward  you  and  your  labours 
of  love.  The  Eternal  God  be  your  refuge,  and  put  under 
you  his  everlasting  arms.  The  peace  of  God  that  passeth 
all  understanding,  keep  your  hearts.  Christ's  lesjacy  of 
peace  I  leave  with  you  ;  and  rest,  with  my  dear  affections 
to  you  all. 

Your  ambassador  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


2CS  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXIII.) 

LETTER  XXIII. 

[Counsel  for  Salvation.] 

To  the  most  beloved,   the   Servants  of  Christ  in    Taunton, 
Salvation. 

Most  Endeared  Christians, — My  continual  solicitude 
for  your  state,  will  not  suffer  me  to  pass  in  quiet  one  week 
without  writing  to  you,  unless  I  am  extraordinarly  hindered. 
Your  sincerity,  steadfastness,  and  proficiency  in  the  grace  of 
God,  is  the  matter  of  my  earnest  desire,  and  that  which  I 
should  account  myself  happy  in.  I  have  a  longing  desire  to 
see  the  faces  of  you  all,  and  (besides  mine  expectation)  shall 
(I  trust)  speedily  have  the  opportunity  to  see  you  at  the  ap- 
proaching assizes,  which  I  shall  greatly  rejoice  in,  notwith- 
standing our  coming  may  be  otherwise  attended  with  many 
inconveniences.  In  the  mean  time  I  send  you  a  fe\v  prison 
counsels.     As, 

1.  To  improve  for  eternity  the  advantages  of  your  present 
state.  Though  you  are  at  many  disadvantages  vvith  respect 
to  the  public  ordinances,  yet  you  have  many  wondrous  and 
most  happy  privileges,  which  spiritual  wisdom  would  make 
no  small  improvement  of.  Oh,  what  a  mercy  have  you,  that 
you  may  serve  God  while  you  will  in  your  fimilies  !  That 
you  may  be  as  much  as  you  will  with  God  in  secret  prayer, 
and  holy  meditation,  and  self-examination  !  I  beseech  you, 
consider  what  a  blessing  you  have  above  others,  that  have 
your  health,  and  a  competency  of  the  comforts  of  this  life, 
and  are  free  from  these  continual  pains,  or  heart-eating  cares, 
that  others  are  disabled  by,  from  looking  after  God  and  their 
souls,  as  you  may  do.  Oh,  consider  what  a  blessed  seed- 
time you  have  for  eternity  !  Now  be  wise,  and  in) prove  your 
happy  season,  your  day  of  iirace.  Prepare  for  death,  make 
all  sure.  Press  on  towards  the  mark  ;  lay  up  in  store  for 
yourselves  a  good  foundation  against  the  time  to  come.  In 
the  morning  sow  your  seed  ;  and  in  the  evening  withdraw 
not  your  hand.  Treasure  up  much  in  heaven.  What  pro- 
fit is  it,  that  you  have  more  than  others, — more  liberty, 
more   comfort,  more    health,    more    wealth,    than    others, 


THE    HEV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  209 

except  you  love  God  more,  and  serve  him  better  than  others  ? 
Now  ply  your  work,  and  despatch  your  business,  so  as 
that  you  may  have  nothing  to  trouble  you  upon  your  death- 
beds. 

2.  To  consider  also  the  templations  and  disadvantai^es  of 
your  state  fcjtudy  to  know  your  own  weaknesses,  and  where 
your  danger  lies,  that  you  may  obviate  Satan,  and  prevent 
your  miscarrying :  There  is  no  condition  but  hath  its 
Sf^'ares.  See  that  you  acquaint  yourselves  with  his  devices, 
lest  you  be  beguiled  by  him,  and  caught  in  his  trap  through 
your  own  nnweariness.  You  that  are  well  provided  tor  in 
the  world,  had  need  to  watch  yourselves,  lest  you  fall  in  love 
with  present  things,  lest  you  be  lifted  up,  lest  you  trust  in 
those  carnal  props,  and  put  confidence  in  the  creatures,  lest 
you  warp,  and  decline,  and  balk  your  duties  through  carnal 
fear,  and  the  desire  of  preserving  your  estates.  You  that  have 
little  in  the  world,  are  not  without  your  temptations  neither. 
Oh!  take  heed  of  envying  others'  prosperity,  of  murmuring 
and  discontent,  of  diffidence  and  distrustfulness,  of  using  in- 
direct  means  to  help  yourselves.  Be  sure  you  make  not  the 
world's  pressures  upon  you,  an  excuse  fVom  your  daily  serv- 
ing of  God  in  your  families  and  in  secret.  Set  this  down 
as  your  rule  and  unchangeable  resolution,  that  God,  and 
your  souls,  and  your  families,  shall  be  looked  duly  and  con- 
tinually after,  go  the  world  which  way  it  will.  Consider  what 
sins  your  tempers,  relations,  callings,  do  most  expose  }  ou 
to.  Be  not  strangers  to  yourselves.  Prove  yourselve  up- 
right in  keepinof  from  your  iniquities. 

3.  To  converse  often  with  your  dust.  Brethren,  we  are 
going,  we  are  going,  the  grave  waiteth  for  us.  Oh  !  forget 
not  that  corruption  is  your  father,  and  the  worm  your  mother 
and  your  sister.  These  are  your  poor  kindred  that  you  must 
shortly  dwell  with,  when  you  come  to  your  long  home.  Re- 
member the  days  of  darkness,  which  shall  be  many.  Take 
every  day  some  serious  turns  with  death.  Think  where  you 
shall  be  a  few  days  and  nights  hence.  Hapy  he  that  knew 
what  to-morrow  meant  for  twenty  years  together  !  Believe 
it,  you  will  find  it  no  little  thing  to  die.  Think  often  how 
yon  are  provided,  how  you  should  receive  the  sentence  of 
death.  Were  you  never  within  sight  of  death  1  How  did  it 
look?  What  did  you  wish  for  most,  at  that  time  ?  What  did 
then  trouble  you  most  ?   Oh  !  mark  these  things,  and   live 


210  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXIIIJ 

accordingly.  Often  ask  your  hearts,  "  What !  if  God  should 
this  night  require  my  soul  ?" 

4.  To  serve  your  generaiion  with  your  might  while  you 
have  time.  You  have  but  a  very  little  time  to  bring  God 
and  glory  here,  or  to  do  your  friends  any  good  ;  now  up  and 
be  doing.  Now  or  never  live  in  the  deep  and  constant  sense 
of  the  very  little  time  that  you  have  for  this  world,  and  the 
great  work  you  have  to  do.  You  are  going  whence  you 
shall  not  return.  There's  no  after-game  to  be  played. 
What !  but  one  cast  for  eternity,  and  will  you  not  be  careful 
to  throw  that  well  ? 

Most  dearly  beloved,  I  covet  after  your  furtherance  in 
mortification,  and  growth  in  grace.  And  oh,  that  I  could 
but  represent  death  to  you,  as  shortly  it  will  shew  itself;  or 
could  but  open  a  window  into  eternity  to  you  :  How  effec- 
tually would  this  do  the  work!  Then  the  cripple  would  fling 
away  his  crutches,  and  betake  himself  to  his  legs.  Then  the 
slothful  would  pluck  his  hand  out  of  his  bosom,  and  shake 
off  his  excuses,  and  be  night  and  day  at  his  work.  Then 
the  Laodicean  would  be  recovered  from  his  benumbed  frame  ; 
then  he  should  have  no  halving  in  religion,  no  lazy  wishing 
and  complaining  ;  but  men  would  ply  the  oars  to  purpose, 
and  sweat  at  their  work. 

But  oh  !  unhappy  man,  how  powerfully  hath  the  world  be- 
witched thee  !  How  miserably  hath  sin  unarmed  thee,  that 
thou  shouldst  look  no  farther  than  thou  canst  see,  and  to  be 
taken  up  with  present  things,  and  forget  so  momentous  con- 
cernments as  are  before  thee  ! 

But  you  my  brethren,  lift  up  yourselves  above  the  objects 
of  sense.  May  you  be  men  for  eternity  ;  and  carry  it  like 
those  that  seek  for  glory,  honour,  and  immortality.  I  am 
apt  to  be  too  long  with  you  :  I  commend  you  to  divine  grace. 
My  dearest  loves  among  you.     I  am, 

1  ours  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel 

of  our  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  of  Juelchester, 
March,  5.  1GG5. 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  211 


LETTER  XXIV. 


To  the  loving  and  most  beloved  people,  the  servants  of  God 
in  Taunton,  grace  and  peace. 

Most  Dearly  Beloved, — Although  I  am  forced  at  the 
present,  to  be  at  a  distance  from  you  ;  yet  I  would  not  have 
you  ignorant,  that  the  dear  remembrance  of  you  is  always 
fresh  with  me,  and  the  care  of  your  eternal  welfare  is  always 
living  upon  my  heart.  Therefore  as  my  beloved  friends  I 
warn  you,  and  cease  not  to  stir  you  up  by  way  of  remem- 
brance, being  jealous  for  you  with  a  godly  jealousy,  that  no 
man  take  your  crown.  My  dearly  beloved,  I  know  you  have 
many  enemies,  and  above  all.  I  fear  your  bosom  enemies  ; 
and,  as  a  watchman  of  the  Lord,  I  give  you  careful  warn- 
ing, and  exhort  you  all  not  to  be  high-minded,  but  fear. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  feareth  always.  Look  diligently, 
lest  any  of  you  fail  of  the  grace  of  God.  You  have  made 
much  and  long  profession  of  the  name  of  Jesus  Christ  :  Oh, 
look  to  your  foundations,  see  upon  what  ground  you  stand. 
Look  to  your  sincerity.  You  must  every  one  of  you  stand 
shortly  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and  be  tried  for 
your  lives  :  Oh,  try  yourselves  thoroughly  first.  It  is  easy 
to  mistake  education  for  regeneration,  and  common  convic- 
tion and  illumination  for  conversion,  and  a  partial  reforma- 
ticu  and  external  obedience  for  true  sanctification.  There- 
fore I  beseech  you  every  one,  to  examine  whether  you  are  in 
the  faith.  Prove  your  own  selves.  Tell  me  not,  you  hope 
you  are  sincere,  you  hope  you  shall  go  to  heaven.  Never 
put  it  off  with  hopes  ;  but  pray,  and  try,  and  search,  till  you 
are  able  to  say,  yea,  and  know  you  are  passed  from  death 
to  life,  and  that  know  you  have  a  building,  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens. 

Suppose  I  should  ask  you,  one  by  one,  "  Where  are  your 
evidences  for  heaven  V^  Could  you  make  out  your  claim? 
Can  you  bring  me  scripture-proof?  Can  you  shew  me  the 
marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus?  What  mean  you,  to  live  at  un- 
certainties? Brethren,  it  is  an  intolerable  ignorance,  for 
any  of  you  in  these  days  of  glorious  light,  not  to  be  able  to 
tell  the  distinguishing  marks  of  a  sound  believer.     And  it  is 


212  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXlV.) 

intolerable  carelessness  of  your  everlasting  welfare,  if  you  do 
not  bring  yourselves  to  the  trial  by  these  marks.  What! 
are  your  hands  filled  with  books,  and  your  ears  filled  with 
sermons,  that  tell  yon  so  plainly,  from  the  word  of  God,  how 
you  shall  know  whether  you  are  in  Christ,  and  are  you  still 
to  seek  ?  Oh,  stir  up  your  own  selves.  Take  heed,  lest  a 
promise  being  left  of  entering  into  his  rest,  any  of  you  fall 
short  of  it  at  last  by  unbelief.  You  are  a  professing  people  ; 
you  pray  and  you  hear,  and  you  run  upon  some  adventures 
for  Jesus  Christ.  But,  O  !  look  to  your  sincerity.  Look  to 
your  principles,  look  to  your  ends  ;  else  you  may  lose  all  at 
last.  Examine,  not  only  what  is  done,  but  whence  it  is 
done  ;  look  to  the  root,  as  well  as  to  the  fruit.  Kye,  not 
only  your  actions,  but  your  aims.  Remember  what  a  strict 
and  severe  eye  you  are  under.  The  Lord  Jesus  makes  strict 
observation  upon  all  your  works  and  ways.  He  observes 
who  of  you  be  fruitful,  and  who  be  barren  and  unprofitable. 
He  knows  who  of  you  be  thriving,  and  who  be  declining. 
He  observes  who  be  warm,  and  who  lukewarm  ;  who  be 
sound  christians,  and  who  of  you  have  only  a  name  to  live. 

Return,  O  backsliding  christians.  You  have  lost  your 
former  convictions,  and  lost  your  former  affections.  You 
are  grown  remiss  in  your  watch,  and  your  zeal  is  turned  into 
a  kind  of  indifferency,  and  your  diligence  into  negligence. 
Your  care  is  turned  into  security,  and  your  tenderness  into 
senselessness.  Oh!  your  case  is  dangerous.  The  Lord 
Jesus  hath  a  great  controversy  wit!)  you.  Oh,  remember 
whence  you  are  fallen,  and  repent,  and  do  your  first  works. 
Strengthen  the  things  that  remain,  and  are  ready  to  die. 
Oh,  rub  and  chafe  your  swooning  souls,  and  ply  them  with 
warm  applications,  and  rousing  considerations,  till  they  re- 
cover their  former  heat.  And  know  ye  from  the  Lord,  that 
the  backslider  in  heart  shall  be  filled  with  his  own  ways. 

O,  ye  barren  and  fruitless  trees,  behold  the  axe  is  lifted 
up  to  fell  you  to  the  ground,  except  you  bring  forth  fruits, 
and  those  worthy  of  repentance.  May  not  Christ  say  to 
some  among  you.  Behold  these  three  years  have  I  come,  seek- 
ing fruit,  and  ft'iding  none  ?  How  is  it  then  that  you  read 
not  the  sentence  passed  on  the  fruitless  tree?  O,  sleepy 
professors,  how  long  will  you  drive  on  in  this  heavy  course  ? 
How  long  will  you  continue  in  an  unprofitable  and  custom- 
ary profession  1  Would  you  be  the  joy  of  our  Lord  ?  W  y, 
know  ye,  that  the  thriving  plant  is  the   master's  praise,  and 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  213 

his  heart's  delight.  Christians,  put  on,  press  towards  the 
mark,  be  adding  to  your  faith,  virtue  ;  and  to  virtue,  know- 
ledge, &c.  See  that  you  grow  extensively,  in  being  abun- 
dant in  all  sorts  of  good  works.  Be  pitiful,  be  courteous, 
gentle,  easily  to  be  entreated.  Be  slow  to  anger,  soon  re- 
conciled. Be  patient,  be  ye  temperate,  be  ye  cheerful. 
Study  not  every  one  only  his  own  things,  but  the  good  of 
his  neighbour.  Think  it  not  enough  to  look  to  your  own 
souls,  but  watch  for  others'  souls.  Pray  for  them,  w^arn 
them,  be  kind  to  them,  study  to  oblige  them,  that  by  any 
means  you  may  win  them,  and  gain  their  souls. 

Labour  to  grow  intensively,  to  do  better  the  things  that 
you  did  before,  to  be  more  fervent  in  prayer,  more  free  and 
willing  in  all  the  ways  of  the  Lord,  to  hear  with  more  pro- 
fit, to  examine  yourselves  more  thoroughly,  to  mind  heaven 
more  frequently  than  heretofore. 

And  you,  O  carnal  and  unsound  professors,  that  reckon 
yourselves  to  be  in  Christ,  but  are  not  new  creatures  ;  that, 
because  you  have  the  good  opinion  of  the  godly,  and  are 
outwardly  conformable  to  the  ways  of  God,  persuade  your- 
selves you  are  in  a  good  condition,  although  your  hearts 
have  not  yet  to  this  day  been  renewed-  O,  repent  speedily. 
Repent,  and  be  converted.  What !  though  we  cannot  dis- 
tinguish the  tares  from  the  wheat.  Yet  the  Lord  of  the  har- 
vest can.  Christ  will  find  you  out,  and  condemn  you  for 
rotten  and  unsound,  unless  you  be  soundly  renewed  by  re- 
pentance, and  effectually  changed  by  converting  grace. 

Brethren,  I  fervently  wish  your  salvation  ;  and  to  this, 
while  I  am  able,  I  shall  bend  my  ardent  endeavours.  I  am 
now  taking  advice  for  my  health,  and  hope  in  some  few 
weeks  to  be  restored  to  you.  Li  the  mean  time,  I  commend 
me  to  your  prayers,  and  you  to  the  grace  of  God,  remaining. 

Yours  in  the  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine, 

Dorchester,  July  7,  1666, 


19 


214  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  XXV.) 

LETTER  XXV. 

[Tlie  Characters  and  Privileges  of  true  Believers.] 

To  the  loving  and  beloved  people,  the  servants  of  God  in 
Taunton,  Salvation. 

Most  Dearly  beloved, — 1  longed  to  hear  of  your  wel- 
fare, but,  by  reason  of  the  carrier's  intermitting  his  journeys, 
could  not  till  now  obtain  my  desires  ;  neither  had  I  an  op- 
portunity, till  the  last  week,  of  writing  to  you.  I  rejoiced 
to  hear,  by  Mr.  Ford,  of  God's  continual  goodness  towards 
you  ;  He  is  your  Shepherd,  and  therefore  it  is  that  you  do 
not  want.  Me  you  have  not  always,  but  he  is  ever  with 
you  ;  his  rod  and  staff  shall  comfort  you.  Nay,  more  than 
all  this,  you  may  hence  conclude  comfortably  for  all  times, 
yea,  for  the  whole  eternity  to  come.  Surely  goodness  and 
mercy  shall  follow  you  all  the  days  of  your  lives,  and  you 
shall  dwell  in  the  house  of  the  Lord  for  ever. 

Li  this,  my  dear  brethren,  in  this  rejoice,  and  again  I  say, 
rejoice  that  God  is  engaged  in  so  near  and  so  sweet  rela- 
tion to  you.  Doubtless,  your  souls  shall  lodge  in  goodness, 
and  be  provided  for  carefully,  and  lie  down  in  everlasting 
safety,  that  have  the  Almighty  for  your  !^hepherd.  Blessed 
are  the  flock  of  his  hands,  and  the  sheep  of  his  pasture ! 
Happy  is  the  people  that  is  in  such  a  case. 

But  who  are  Christ's  sheep  1  Not  all  professors.  I  be- 
seech  you,  take  heed  how  you  rest  in  profession.  It  is  not 
profession,  but  conversion,  that  turns  a  man  from  a  swine  to 
a  sheep.  Let  none  of  you  be  deceived  ;  nor  flatter  your- 
selves that,  because  you  bear  the  name  of  Christians,  and 
do  many  things,  and  have  escaped  the  open  gross  pollutions 
of  the  world,  therefore  you  are  surely  among  the  number  of 
Christ's  true  sheep.  All  this  you  may  attain  to,  and  yet  be 
but  washed  swine  ;  there  must  be  an  inward,  deep,  and 
thorough,  and  universal  change  upon  your  natures,  dispo- 
sitions, inclinations,  or  else  you  are  not  Christ's  sheep. 

Li  a  word,  if  you  will  be  put  out  of  doubt  whether  you 
are  his  sheep  or  not,  you  must  try  it  by  this  certain  mark 
that  Christ  sets  upon  all  his  sheep,  even  your  sanctification. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  215 

You  that  will  stand  to  the  trial,  answer  me  truly  and  delibe- 
rately to  these  questions.  Do  you  hate  every  sin,  as  the 
sheep  doth  the  mire  ?  Do  you  regard  no  iniquity  in  your 
hearts?  Do  you  strive  against,  and  oppose  all  sin,  though 
it  may  seem  ever  so  necessary,  ever  so  natural  to  you,  or 
have  you  not  your  secret  haunts  of  evil  ?  For  every  swine 
will  have  his  swill.  Do  you  abstain  from  sin  out  of  fear, 
or  out  of  dislike  1  Are  you  at  peace  with  no  sin,  or  do  you 
not  hide  some  iniquity,  as  a  sweet  morsel  under  your 
tongue?  Is  there  not  some  practice  that  you  are  not  will- 
ing to  know  is  a  sin,  for  fear  you  should  be  forced  to  leave 
it  ?  Do  you  love  the  commandment  that  forbids  your  sin  : 
or  do  you  not  wish  it  out  of  the  Bible,  as  that  evil  mau 
wished  God  had  never  made  the  seventh  commandment ! 
Again,  How  do  you  stand  affected  towards  holiness  ?  Do 
you  love  it?  Do  you  choose  it?  Do  you  hunger  and 
thirst  after  it,  and  desire  it  more  than  any  temporal  good  ? 
Have  you  chosen  the  vvay  of  God's  precepts  ;  and  had 
rather  live  holily  than  be  allowed  to  live  in  your  sins  ?  Do 
you,  in  your  very  hearts,  prefer  a  godly  strict  life,  in  com- 
munion with  and  conformity  to  God,  before  the  greatest 
prosperity  of  the  world  ?  Do  you  choose  holine^ss,  not  out 
of  bare  necessity,  because  you  cannot  go  to  heaven  without 
it,  but  out  of  love  to  it,  and  from  a  deep  sense  that  you  have 
of  the  surpassing  excellency,  and  loveliness,  and  beauty  of 
it?  If  it  be  thus  with  you,  you  are  the  persons  that  the 
Lord  Jesus  hath  marked  for  his  sheep. 

And  now,  come,  ye  blessed  ;  all  that  have  this  mark  upon 
you,  come  and  understand  your  happiness.  You  are  marked 
out  for  preservation  ;  and  let  it  go  how  it  will  with  the  rest, 
this  I  know,  it  shall  go  well  with  you  that  fear  the  Lord, 
that  fear  before  him.  You  are  the  separated  ones,  the  seal- 
ed ones,  upon  whom  the  angel  hath  set  the  seal  of  the  living 
God;  and  so  you  are  redeemed  unto  God  from  among 
men,  being  the  first-fruits  unto  God,  and  unto  the  Lamb, 
and  have  your  Father's  name  written  in  your  foreheads. 

Hear,  0  beloved  flock,  I  may  give  you  the  salutation  of 
the  angels.  Hail,  you  are  highly  favoured  of  the  Lord. 
Blessed  are  you  among  men  ;  though  you  are  but  poor  and 
despised,  and  like  little  Benjamin  among  the  thousands  of 
Judah,  you  carry  away  the  blessing  and  the  privilege  from  all 
the  rest.  God  hath  done  more  for  the  least  of  you  than  for  the 
whole  world  of  mankind  besides,  put  all  their  mercies  to-* 


216  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.    XXV.) 

gether.  Fear  not,  little  flock,  it  is  your  Father^s  good  plea- 
sure to  give  you  the  kingdom.  Blessed  are  you  of  the  Lord  : 
for  yours  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.  All  that  the  Scripture 
speaks  of  that  kingdom  of  glory,  that  kingdom  of  peace,  of 
righteousness,  that  everlasting  kingdom,  it  speaks  it  all  to 
you.  Behold  your  inheritance.  See  that  you  believe. 
What!  know  you  not  your  own  selves  ?  You  are  the  sons 
of  God,  inheritors  of  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  joint  heirs 
with  Christ  the  Lord  of  glory.  Do  you  believe  this  ?  Take 
heed  you  make  not  God  a  liar.  His  word  is  nigh  you  : 
have  you  not  the  writings  in  your  hands  ?  Do  I  speak  any- 
thing but  what  God  hath  spoken  ?  Shall  I  tell  you  of  the 
thing  which  shall  be  hereafter?  Why  thus  it  shall  be: — 
The  Son  of  Man  shall  come  in  his  glory,  and  all  his  holy 
angels  with  him  :  Then  shall  he  sit  upon  the  throne  of  his 
glory,  and  he  shall  separate  you  as  a  shepherd  divideth  the 
sheep  from  the  goats,  and  he  shall  set  you  at  his  own  right 
hand  :  Then  shall  the  King  say,  Come,  ye  blessed  oj  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you. 

Do  you  believe  yet  1  Do  you  thoroughly  believe  ?  If  so, 
then  my  work  is  done,  then  I  need  not  bid  you  rejoice,  nor 
bid  you  be  thankful,  only  believe.  Do  this,  and  do  all.  Be- 
lieve, and  you  will  rejoice  with  joy  unspeakable,  and  full  of 
glory.  Believe,  and  you  will  be  fruitful,  and  shew  your 
faith  by  your  works.  Believe,  and  you  will  love,  for  faith 
worketh  by  love.  In  a  word,  keep  these  things  upon  your 
hearts  by  daily  and  lively  consideration  ;  and  this  will  bring 
heaven  into  your  souls,  and  engage  you  to  all  manner  of  holy 
conversation  and  godliness.  This  will  mortify  you  to  the 
world,  the  grand  enemy  of  which  I  advise,  nay,  I  charge 
you  to  beware.  W^hen  Saul  had  gotten  his  kingdom,  he  left 
off  taking  care  for  the  asses.  O,  remember  yours  is  the  king- 
dom. What  are  you  the  better,  that  you  have  all  this  in 
your  Bibles,  if  you  do  not  weigh  it  by  frequent  and  serious 
consideration,  and  ponder  these  sayings  in  your  hearts  ? 
Beloved,  I  have  written  these  things  to  you  that  your  joy 
may  be  full.  And  now,  peace  I  leave  with  you.  I  am 
Christ's  Ambassador  to  you,  an  Ambassador  of  peace  ;  his 
peace  I  pronounce  unto  you.  In  his  name  I  bless  you. 
Farewell  in  the  Lord.     I  am, 

The  fervent  well-wilier  of  your  souls, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
Devizes,  June  29, 1666. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    A.LLEINE.  217 

LETTER  XXVI. 

[Of  the  Second  Coming  of  Christ.] 

To  the  faithful  and  beloved^  the  servants  of  God  in  Taunton, 
grace  and  p  eace. 

Loving  and  Most  Dearly  Beloved, — Though  I  trust 
my  bonds  do  preach  to  you,  yet  methinks  that  doth  uot  suffice 
me  ;  but  the  conscience  of  my  duty,  and  the  workings  of  my 
heart  towards  you,  are  still  calling  upon  me  to  stir  you  up 
by  way  of  remembrance,  notwithstanding  you  know  and  be 
established  in  the  present  truth.  And  if  Paul  do  call  upon 
so  great  an  evangelist  as  Timothy,  to  remember  that  Jesus 
loas  raised  from  the  dead  according  to  the  gospel,  why  should 
not  I  be  often  calling  upon  myself,  and  upon  you,  my  dearly 
beloved,  to  remember  and  mediate  upon,  and  closely  apply 
the  great  and  weighty  truths  of  the  gospel,  which  you  have 
already  received  ?  And  in  truth,  I  perceive  in  myself  and 
you  another  manner  of  heat  and  warmth  in  the  insisting  upon 
you  the  plainest  principles  of  ('hristianity,  and  the  setting 
them  home  upon  mine  own  heart  and  yours,  than  in  dwell- 
ing upon  any  more  obstruse  speculations,  in  the  clearest 
handling  of  which  the  preacher  may  seem  to  be  too  much 
like  the  winter  nights,  very  bright,  but  very  cold. 

But  now,  my  brethren,  I  shall  not  with  Paul  call  upon 
you  so  much  to  remember  the  resurrection  of  Christ  as  the 
return  of  Christ  :  Behold  he  cometh  in  the  clouds,  and  every 
eye  shall  see  him;  your  eyes  and  mine  eyes.  And  all  the 
tribes  of  the  earth  shall  mourn  because  of  him  :  But  we  shall 
lift  up  our  heads,  because  the  day  oi  our  redemption  draweth 
nigh.  This  is  the  day  I  look  for,  and  wait  for,  and  have  laid 
up  all  my  hopes  in.  If  the  Lord  return  not,  I  profess  my- 
self undone  ;  my  preaching  is  vain,  and  my  suffering  is  vain  ; 
and  the  bottom  in  which  I  have  entrusted  all  my  hopes  is 
for  ever  miscarried.  But  I  know  whom  I  have  trusted.  We 
are  built  upon  the  foundations  of  that  sure  word,  we  are  not 
built  upon  the  sand  of  mortality  Nor  do  we  run  so  as  un- 
certainly, but  the  word  of  the  Lord  abideth  for  ever,  upon 
19* 


218  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXVI.) 

which  word  do  we  hope.  How  fully  doth  this  word  assure 
us  that  this  same  Jesus  that  is  gone  up  into  heaven  shall  so 
return,  and  that  he  shall  appear  the  second  time  unto  salva- 
tion to  them  that  look  tor  him.  Oh,  how  sure  is  the  thing  ! 
How  near  is  the  time  !   How  glorious  will  his  appearing  be  ! 

The  thing  is  sure  ;  the  day  is  set ;  God  hath  appointed  a 
day  wherein  he  will  judge  the  world  by  that  man  whom  he 
hath  ordained.  The  manner  of  it  is  revealed, — Behold  the 
Lord  Cometh  with  ten  thousand  of  his  saints.  The  attend- 
ants are  appointed  and  nominated, — The  Son  of  Man  shall 
come  in  his  glory,  and  cdl  his  holy  angels  with  him.  The 
thing,  you  see,  is  established,  and  every  circumstance  is  de- 
termined. How  sweet  are  the  words  that  dropped  from  the 
precious  lips  of  our  departing  Lord  !  What  generous  cor- 
dials hath  he  left  us  in  his  parting  sermons,  and  his  last 
prayer  I  And  yet  of  all  the  rest  those  are  the  sweetest,  I 
will  come  again  and  receive  you  to  myself,  that  where  I  am 
there  you  may  be  also.  What  need  you  any  further  witness  ? 
You  have  heard  him  yourselves,  assuring  you  of  his  return. 
Doubtless  he  cannot  deceive  you.  You  have  not  only 
known,  but  seen  and  felt  the  truth  of  his  promises. 

And  will  he  come  1  Tremble  then,  ye  sinners  ;  triumph, 
ye  saints  ;  clap  your  hands,  all  he  that  look  for  the  consola- 
tion of  Israel.  O  sinners,  where  will  you  then  appear? 
How  will  you  look  upon  Him  whom  you  have  pierced,  whom 
you  have  persecuted,  whose  great  salvation  you  have  neglect- 
ed and  despised  ?  Wo  unto  you  that  ever  you  were  born, 
unless  you  should  then  be  found  to  be  new-horn  ! 

But  you,  0  children  of  the  Most  High,  how  will  you  for- 
get your  travail,  and  be  melted  into  joy  !  This  is  He  in 
whom  you  have  believed ;  whom  having  not  seen  ye  loved. 
But  how  will  love  and  joy  be  working  (if  I  may  so  speak) 
with  pangs  unutterable,  when  you  shall  see  him,  and  hear 
his  sweet  voice  commending,  applauding,  approving  of  you, 
and  owning  you  by  name  betbre  all  the  world  !  Brethren, 
thus  it  must  be,  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it.  See  that  you 
stagger  not  at  the  promise,  but  give  glory  to  God  by  be- 
lieving. 

Again,  the  time  is  near.  Yd  a  little  while,  and  he  that 
shall  come  will  come.  Behold  I  come  quickly,  saith  He.  And 
again.  The  Lord  is  at  hand.  Sure  you  are,  that  death  can- 
not be  far  otT.  0  christian,  thou  dost  not  know  but  the  next 
year,  nay,  possibly  the  next  week,  thou  mayest  be  in  heaven. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  219 

Christ  will  not  long  endure  thine  absence,  but  will  have  thee 
up  to  him  till  the  time  of  his  general  appearing;  when  he 
will  take  us  up  altogether,  and  so  we  shall  be  ever  with  the 
Lord. 

Soul,  believest  thou  this  1  If  thou  dost  indeed,  what  re- 
mains but  that  thou  shouldest  live  a  life  of  love  and  praise  ; 
studying  to  do  all  the  good  thou  canst  till  thou  come  to  hea- 
ven ;  and  waiting  all  the  days  of  thine  appointed  time  till 
thy  change  shall  come  ?  0  my  soul,  look  out  and  long.  O 
my  brethren,  be  you  as  the  mother  of  Sisera,  looking  out  at 
the  windows,  and  watching  at  the  lattices,  saying,  "Why 
are  his  chariot-wheels  so  long  a  coming?"  Though  the 
time  till  you  shall  see  him  be  but  very  short,  yet  love  and 
longing  make  it  seem  tedious. 

My  beloved,  comfort  your  hearts  with  these  words.  Look 
upon  these  things  as  the  greatest  realities,  and  let  your  affec- 
tions be  answerable  to  your  expectations.  I  would  not  have 
told  you  these  things,  unless  I  had  believed  them  :  For  it  is 
for  this  hope  that  I  am  bound  with  this  chain.  The  blessing 
of  the  Holy  Trinity  be  upon  you  !  I  am  yours,  and  will  be. 
The  God  of  peace  be  with  you. 

I  rest 

Your  Ambassador  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelcbester, 
August  5,  1666. 


LETTER  XXVIL 

[Of  the  LoveofChrst.] 

To  his  most  endeared  friends,  the  servants  of  God  in  Taun- 
ton,  salvation. 

Most  Dearly  Beloved, — Methinks  my  breasts  are  not 
easy,  unless  I  do  let  them  forth  unto  you.  Methinks  there 
is  something  still  to  do,  and  my  week's  work  is  not  ended, 
unless  I  have  given  my  soul  vent,  and  imparted  something 
to  the  beloved  flock  that  I  have  left  behind.     And  Oh,  that 


220  CHUISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXVII.) 

my  letters  in  my  absence  might  be  useful  to  you  !  Assuredly 
it  is  my  joy  to  serve  you,  and  my  love  for  you  is  without 
dissimulation :  Witness  my  twice  lost  liberties,  and  my  im- 
paired health,  all  which  I  might  have  preserved  had  it  not 
been  for  my  readiness  to  minister  to  you. 

But  what  do  I  speak  of  my  love  ?  It  is  the  sense  of  the 
infinite  love  of  God  your  Father  that  I  would  have  to  dwell 
upon  you.  Forget  me,  so  you  remember  him.  Let  me  be 
very  little,  so  he  be  very  lovely  in  your  eyes.  Let  him  be 
as  the  bucket  that  goes  up,  though  I  be  as  the  bucket  that 
goes  down.  Bury  me,  so  that  you  do  but  set  the  Lord  al- 
ways before  you.  Let  my  name  be  written  in  the  dust,  so 
his  name  be  written  deep  upon  all  your  souls. 

O  Lord,  I  am  thy  servant,  truly  I  am  thy  servant  :  Glo- 
rify thine  own  name  by  me  ;  and  thou  shalt  have  my  hand 
to  it,  that  1  will  be  content  to  be  hid  in  obscurity,  and  to 
disappear  through  the  overcoming  lustre  and  brightness  of 
thy  glory. 

Brethren,  understand  mine  office  ; — I  preach  not  myself, 
but  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  myself  your  servant  for  Jesus* 
sake.  Give  him  your  hearts,  and  I  have  my  errand.  I  am 
but  the  friend  of  the  bridegroom,  and  my  business  is  but  to 
give  you  to  understand  his  love,  and  to  gain  your  hearts 
unto  him.  He  is  an  object  worthy  of  my  commendations 
and  of  your  affections.  His  love  is  worth  the  writing  of,  and 
worth  the  thinking  of,  and  worth  the  speaking  of.  O  my 
brethren,  never  forget,  I  beseech  you,  how  he  loveth  you. 
He  is  in  heaven,  and  you  are  on  earth  :  he  is  in  glory,  and 
you  in  rags  ;  he  is  i^i  the  shining  throne,  and  you  in  dirty 
flesh  ; — and  yet  he  loveth  you.  His  heart  is  infinitely  ten- 
der over  you,  even  now  while  he  is  at  the  right  hand  of  the 
Majesty  on  high.  How  feelingly  doth  he  cry  out  at  the  hurt 
of  his  poor  members  on  earth,  Smil,  Said  why  persecutest 
thou  me  ?  Oh,  of  what  quick  sense  is  the  sense  of  our  dear 
Lord  unto  us  !  When  we  are  touched  on  earth  he  feels  h 
in  heaven. 

Brethren,  Christ  is  real  in  all  that  he  speaks  unto  you. 
He  is  not  like  a  flourishing  lover,  who  fills  up  his  letters  with 
rhetoric,  and  hath  more  care  of  the  dress  of  his  speech  than 
of  the  truth.  Who  ever  gave  demonstration  of  the  reality 
of  his  love  at  so  dear  a  rate  as  Christ  hath  done  ?  Men  do 
not  use  to  die  in  jest.  Who  will  impoverish  himself  to  en- 
rich his  friend  ?     And  divest  himself  of  his  honour  to  ad- 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  221 

vance  him?  And  debase  himself  to  admiration  below  his 
own  degree  to  contract  affinity  with  him  ?  And  all  this  but 
to  make  him  believe  that  he  loves  him  ? 

Brethren,  possess  your  very  hearts  with  this,  that  Christ's 
love  doth  go  out  with  infinite  dearness  towards  you.  Even 
now,  while  he  is  in  all  his  glory,  he  earnestly  remembers 
you  still.  This  is  the  High  Priest  that  now  is  entered  into 
the  holy  of  holies,  doth  bear  your  names  particulary,  remem- 
bering every  poor  believer  by  name.  He  bears  your  names, 
— but  where  ?  "  upon  his  breastplate,  upon  his  heart,"  saith 
the  text,  Exod.  xxviii.  29.  Ah  !  Christians,  I  may  salute 
you  as  the  angel  did  Mary,  Hail  you  that  are  highly  fa- 
VGured  :  Blessed  are  you  among  men.  Sure  your  lot  is  fall- 
en in  a  happy  place.  What!  in  the  bosom  of  Christ? 
Yea,  and  verily  you  may  believe,  and  doubt  not.  I  may 
apply  that  of  Gabriel,  O  Daniel^  thou  art  greatly  beloved, 
unto  you ;  you  are  beloved  indeed,  to  have  your  names 
written  upon  the  very  heart  of  Christ,  now  he  is  in  glory. 

Oh,  let  his  name  be  written  then  on  your  hearts.  Do  not 
write  his  name  in  the  sand  when  he  hath  written  yours 
upon  his  own  breast!  Do  not  forget  him  who  hath  taken 
such  care,  that  where  he  is,  he  may  never  forget  you,  having 
recorded  your  names  not  only  on  his  book,  but  on  his  flesh, 
and  set  you  as  a  seal  upon  his  heart.  He  hath  you  upon 
his  heart, — but  why  ?  "  For  a  memorial  before  the  Lord 
continually,"  so  saith  the  text.  Beloved,  your  Lord  is  so  far 
from  forgetting  you  in  all  his  greatness  and  glory,  that  he  is 
gone  into  heaven  on  purpose,  there  to  present  you  before  the 
Lord,  that  you  may  be  always  in  remembrance  before  him. 
0  beloved,  glory,  yea,  and  triumph  in  his  love.  Doubtless 
it  must  go  well  with  us.  Who  shall  condemn  ?  It  is  Christ 
that  died,  and  rose  again,  and  is  now  making  intercession. 
His  interest  is  potent.  He  is  always  present.  Our  advo- 
cate is  never  out  of  court.  Never  did  cause  miscarry  in  his 
hand.  Trust  you  safely  in  him.  Happy  is  that  man  for 
whom  he  shall  undertake  to  speak. 

Oh,  the  riches  of  Christ's  love  !  He  did  not  think  it 
enough  to  die  for  you.  His  love  and  care  doth  not  end  with 
his  natural  life  on  earth,  but  ''  he  ever  liveth  to  make  inter* 
cession  for  us."  His  love  is  like  his  life,  ever  and  ever  ; 
knowing  no  remission  in  degree,  nor  intermission  of  time, 
no  cessation  of  working,  but  is  ever,  ever  in  motion  to- 
wards us. 


222  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  XXVIII.) 

But  when  shall  I  end,  if  I  suffer  my  soul  to  run  out  its 
length,  and  my  running  pen  to  enlarge  according  to  the  di- 
mensions ot"  this  boundless  field  of  divine  love  ?  If  the  pens 
of  all  the  world  were  employed  to  write  volumes  of  love  ;  if 
the  tongues  of  all  the  living  were  exercised  in  nothing  else 
but  talking  of  this  love  ;  if  all  the  hearts  that  be  were  made 
up  of  love  :  and  all  the  powers  and  affections  of  the  mind 
were  turned  into  one,  to  wit,  the  power  of  love  ;  yet  this 
were  no  less  than  infinitely  too  little,  either  to  conceive,  or 
to  express  the  greatness  of  Christ's  love. 

O  my  dearly  beloved,  may  your  souls  be  swallowed  up  in 
this  love.  Think,  and  think  while  you  will,  you  can  never 
think  how  much  you  are  beloved.  See  that  ye  love  again, 
by  way  of  gratitude^  though  not  of  requital.  What  though, 
your  souls  be  but  narrow,  and  your  powers  but  little,  yet 
love  him  with  all  you  have.  Love  him  with  all  your  hearts, 
and  all  your  strength.  To  the  meditations,  and  to  the  em- 
braces of  divine  love  I  leave  you,  thinking  it  now  not  worth 
while  to  tell  you  of  my  love,  remaining 

Yours  in  the  bonds  of  your  most 

dear  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
AugtLst  11,  16G5. 


LETTER  XXVIIL 

[Warning  to  Professors  of  their  Danger.] 

To  the  most  beloved  people,  the  servants  of  God  in  Taunton, 
Salvation. 

Most  Dear  Friends, — My  top  joy  is,  that  my  Beloved 
is  mine  and  I  am  his  ;  But  next  to  that  I  have  no  joy  so 
great  as  that  you  are  mine  and  I  am  yours,  and  you  are 
Christ's.  My  relation  to  Christ  is  above  all ;  He  is  my  life 
and  my  peact',  my  riches,  and  my  righteousness:  He  is  my 
hope  and  my  strength,  and  mine  inheritance,  and  my  rejoic- 
ing. Li  him  will  1  please  myself  ibr  ever,  and  in  him  will 
I  glory.  I  esteem  myself  most  happy,  and  rich,  and  safe  in 
him,  though  of  myself  I  am  nothing.     In  him  I  may  boast 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  223 

without  pride,  and  glory  without  vanity.  Here  is  no  danger 
of  being  over  much  pleased  ;  neither  can  the  Christian  ex- 
ceed  his  bounds  in  over-vakiing  his  own  riches  and  happi- 
ness in  Christ.  I  am  greatly  pleased  with  the  lot  that  is 
fallen  to  me  ;  The  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  me,  and 
none  shall  stop  this  my  confidence  of  boasting  in  Christ. 
But  as  my  lot  in  him  is  above  all,  so,  I  will  assure  you,  it  is 
no  small  content  to  me,  that  my  lot  is  fallen  with  you.  And 
though  many  difficulties  have  fallen  to  my  lot  among  you 
(for  I  have  broken  my  health  and  lost  my  liberty  once  and 
again,  for  your  sakes)  yet  none  of  these  things  move  me.  I 
wish  nothing  more  than  to  spend  and  to  be  spent  upon  the 
service  of  your  faith.  I  bless  the  Lord  for  it,  as  an  invalu- 
able mercy,  that  ever  he  called  me  to  be  an  Ambassador  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  to  youwards.  Li  this  station  I  desire 
to  approve  myself  to  him  ;  and  that  I  am  withdrawn  from  my 
work  for  a  season,  it  is  but  that  1  may  return  to  you  re- 
freshed, and  enabled  for  my  work  among  you.  You  may 
not  think  that  I  have  forgotten  you,  and  consulted  my  own 
ease  and  pleasure  :  But  if  God  prosper  my  intentions,  I 
shall  be  found  to  have  been  daily  serving  you  in  this  retire- 
ment. I  will  assure  you,  I  am  very  tender  of  preserving  all 
that  little  strength  that  God  doth  add  to  me,  entirely  for 
your  sakes  ;  being  resolved  not  so  much  as  once  to  broach 
the  vessel  till  I  draw  forth  to  you. 

I  bless  the  Lord,  I  am  in  great  tranquillity  here  in  this 
town,  and  walk  up  and  down  the  corporation  without  any 
questioning  me.  Only  it  hath  pleased  the  Lord  to  add  to 
my  affliction  since  my  coming,  by  taking  away  my  dear  fa- 
ther, the  day  of  whose  glorious  translation  was  the  day  after 
my  arriving  here.  But  I  bless  the  Lord,  I  do  believe  and 
expect  the  return  of  the  Redeemer  with  all  his  saints,  and 
the  most  glorious  resurrection  of  my  own  dead  body  with  all 
believers.  And  this  makes  me  to  rest  in  hope,  and  fills  me 
with  unspeakably  more  joy,  than  the  death  of  myself,  or  any 
other  saint  can  with  grief  And  now  I  make  it  my  busi- 
ness to  be  rendered  serviceable  to  you  ;  and  do,  by  this  re- 
turn you  my  hearty  thanks  for  your  earnest  prayers  and 
intercessions  to  God  in  my  behalf.  For  it  is  He  that  must 
do  the  cure.  I  seem  to  myself  to  be  retired  to  this  place,  as 
a  vessel  rent  and  shattered,  and  torn  in  the  service,  that  is 
come  to  recruit  in  the  harbour.  And  here  I  am  as  it  were 
rigging,  and  repairing,  and  victualling,  to  put  forth  again  in 


224  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXVIII.) 

the  service  ;  which  I  shall  do  with  the  first  wind,  as  soon  as 
I  am  ready.  What  is  my  life,  unless  I  am  serviceable  ? 
And  though  I  must  for  the  present  forbear  my  wonted  la- 
bour, yet  I  shall  not  cease  to  exhort  you,  and  call  upon  you 
while  I  am  absent  from  you,  to  stand  fast,  and  to  grow  up 
in  your  holy  faith. 

Be  warned,  my  dearly  beloved,  that  you  fall  not  upon 
those  dangerous  rocks  upon  which  so  many  professors  have 
been  split. 

There  are  three  things  which  1  beseech  you  carefully  to 
beware  of. 

First,  Lest  while  Christ  is  in  your  mouths,  the  world  run 
away  with  your  hearts.    There  is  many  a  seeming  professor 
that  will  be  found  a  mere  idolator.     Many  a  soul  goes  down 
to  hell  in  this  sin,  in  the  midst  of  his  profession,  and  never 
discerns   it  till  it  be   too  late.      Remember,  I  beseech  you, 
that  the  oxen,  the  farm,  wife,  merchandise  (all  of  them  law- 
ful comforts,)  did  as  effectually  keep  men  from  a  sound  and 
saving  closing  with  Christ,  as  the  vilest  lusts  of  the  worst  of 
men.     Whatever  you   find  your   hearts   very   much  pleased 
in,  and   in  love   with,  among  these   earthly  comforts,  set  a 
mark  upon  that   thing,  and    remember  that   there  lies  your 
greatest  danger  !     What  you  love  most,  you  must  fear  most ; 
and  think  often  with  yourselves,  "  This,  if  any  thing,  is  like 
to  be  my  ruin."    Oh,  the  multitudes  of  professors  that  perish 
for  ever,  by  the   secret  hand  of  this  mortal   enemy,  I  mean 
the  overvaluing  of  earthly  things.     The  hearers  compared  to 
the  thorny  ground,  did   not   openly  fall   away  and   cast  off 
their  profession,  as  the  stony  ground  did  ;   but  while  others 
withered   away,  the   blade  of  profession    was   as  green  and 
fresh  as   ever  ;  and  yet  their  inordinate  aflection  to  the  things 
of  this  life,  did  secretly  undo  all  at  last.      Little  do  most  pro- 
fessors think  of  this, — while  they  please  themselves  in  their 
estates,  while  they  delight  themselves  so  freely  in  their  chil- 
dren, in  their  wives,  in  their  habitations  and  possessions  ; 
— that  these  be  the  things   that   are  like  to  undo  them  for 
ever.      How  little  is  that  scripture  thought  of,  which  speaks 
so  dreadfully  to  wordly  professors,  Lnve  not  the  icorld^  for  if 
any  man  love  the  iiwrld,  the  love  of  the  Father  is  not  in  him. 
Are  there  not  many  among   us,  who,  though  they  do   keep 
up   prayer,    and  other   holy   duties  ;  yet    the    strength   and 
vigour  of  their  hearts  goeth  out  after  earthly  things  1      And 
these   are  their  chief  care  and   their  chief  joy.     Such  must 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  225 

know  that  they  are  none  of  Christ's ;  and  they  were  better, 
to  understand  it  now  and  seek  to  be  renewed  by  repentance, 
than  hereafter,  when  there  shall  be  no  place  for  repentance. 

Secondly,  Lest  while  iniquity  doth  abound,  your  love  to 
Christ  doth  tcax  cold.  Remember  what  an  abomination, 
Laodicea  was  to  Christ,  because  she  grew  so  lukewarm  ; 
and  what  a  controversy  he  had  with  Ephesus,  a  sound  church, 
because  she  did  but  slacken  and  grow  more  remiss  in  her 
love-  A  friend  is  born  for  adversity  ;  and  now  is  the  time, 
if  you  will  prove  the  sincerity  of  your  love  and  friendship 
to  Jesus  Christ,  by  following  him  zealously,  resolvedly,  ful- 
ly, now  he  is  most  rejected  and  opposed. 

Thirdly,  Lest  you  keep  up  a  barren  and  fruitless  profes- 
sion, without  progression.  See  to  it,  my  brethren,  that  you 
be  not  only  professors,  but  proficients.  Many  professors 
think  all  is  well,  because  they  keep  on  in  the  exercises  of 
religion  ;  but  alas  !  you  may  keep  on  praying  and  hearing 
all  the  week  long,  and  yet  be  not  one  jot  the  further. 
Many  there  are  that  keep  going  ;  but  it  is  like  the  horse  in 
the  mill,  that  is  going  all  day,  but  yet  is  no  further  than  when 
he  first  began.  Nay,  it  oft  times  happens  in  the  trade  of 
religion,  as  it  doth  in  trading  in  the  world,  where  many 
keep  on  in  trading  still,  till  for  want  of  care  and  caution, 
and  examining  their  accounts  whedier  they  go  forward  or 
backward,  they  trade  themselves  out  of  all.  Oh,  look  to  it, 
my  brethren,  that  none  of  you  rest  in  the  doing  of  duties, 
but  examine  what  comes  of  them.  Otherwise,  as  you  may 
trade  yourselves  into  poverty,  so  you  may  hear  and  pray 
yourselves  into  hardness  of  heart,  and  desperate  security  and 
formality.  This  was  the  very  case  of  wretched  Laodicea, 
who  kept  up  the  trade  of  religious  duties,  and  verily  thought 
that  all  was  well,  because  the  trade  still  went  on,  and  that  she 
was  increased  in  spiritual  goods,  and  in  a  gaining  way. 
But  when  h,er  accounts  were  cast  up  at  last,  all  comes  to  noth- 
ing, and  ends  in  wretchedness,  poverty,  and  nakedness. 
Most  dear  brethren,  I  wish  and  pray  for  the  prosperity  of 
.you  all.  But  above  all,  I  wish  your  souls'  prosperity  ;  with 
which,  after  my  most  dear  loves  to  you  all,  having  already 
exceeded  the  bounds  of  an  epistle,  I  commend  you  to  the  liv- 
ing God,  remaining.       Your  tervent  well-wisher, 

And  Ambassador  in  Christ, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
Dkvizes,  Jinie  22,  1666. 

20 


22$  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XXIX.) 

LETTER  XXIX. 

[An  Admiration  of  the  Love  of  God.] 

To  the  loving  and  most  dearly  beloved,  the  servants  of  God 
in  Taunton,  salvation. 

My  Most  Dear  Friends, — I  love  you,  and  long  for  you 
in  the  Lord  ;  and  I  am  weary  with  forbearing  that  good  and 
blessed  work  that  the  Lord  hath  committed  to  me,  for  the 
furtherance  of  your  salvation.  How  long.  Lord  1  How 
long  shall  I  dwell  in  silence?  How  long  shall  my  tongue 
cleave  to  the  roof  of  my  mouth  1  When  will  God  open  my 
lips,  that  I  may  stand  up  and  praise  him  1  But  it  is  my 
Father's  good  pleasure  yet  to  keep  me  in  a  total  disability  of 
publishing  his  name  among  you  ;  unto  him  my  soul  shall 
patiently  subscribe.  I  may  not,  I  cannot  complain  that  he 
is  hard  to  me,  or  useth  me  with  rigour  ;  I  am  full  of  the 
mercies  of  the  Lord,  yea,  brimful  and  running  over.  And 
shall  I  complain  1     Far  be  it  from  me. 

But  though  I  may  not  murmur,  methinks  I  may  mourn  a 
little,  and  sit  down  and  wish,  "  O,  if  I  may  not  have  a 
tongue  to  speak,  would  I  had  but  hands  to  write,  that  I 
might  from  my  pen  drop  some  heavenly  counsels  to  my  be- 
loved people."  Methinks  my  feeble  lingers  do  even  itch  to 
write  unto  you ;  but  it  cannot  be,  alas  !  my  right  hand 
seems  to  have  forgotten  her  cunning,  and  hath  much  ado 
with  trembling  to  lift  the  bread  unto  my  mouth.  Do  you 
think  you  should  have  had  so  little  to  shew  under  my  hand, 
to  bear  witness  of  my  care  for  you  and  love  to  you,  if  God 
had  not  shaken  my  pen  as  it  were  out  of  my  hand  ?  But 
all  that  he  doth  is  done  well  and  wisely,  and  therefore  I 
suSmit.  I  have  purposed  to  borrow  hands  wherewith  to 
write  unto  my  beloved,  rather  than  to  be  silent  any  longer. 

But  where  shall  I  begin,  or  when  should  I  end  ?  If  I 
think  to  speak  of  the  mercies  of  God  towards  me,  or  mine 
enlarged  affections  towards  you,  methinks  I  feel  already 
how  strait  this  paper  is  like  to  be,  and  how  insignificant 
my  expressions  will  be  found,  and  how  insufficient  all  that 
I  can  say,  will  prove  at  last  to  utter  what  I  have  to  tell  you. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  227 

But  shall  I  say  nothing,  because  I  cannot  utter  all  ?     This 
must  not  be,  neither. 

Come  then,  all  ye  that  fear  the  Lord,  come,  and  I  will  tell 
you  what  he  hath  done  for  my  soul.  0  help  me  to  love  that 
precious  name  of  his,  which  is  above  all  my  praises.  O 
love  the  Lord,  all  ye  saints,  and  fear  before  him  !  Magnify 
the  Lord  with  nie,  and  let  us  exalt  his  name  together !  He 
hath  remembered  my  low  estate,  because  his  mercy  endur- 
eth  for  ever.  O  blessed  be  you  of  the  Lord,  my  dearly  be- 
loved ;  O  thrice  blessed  may  you  be,  for  all  your  remem- 
brances of  me  before  the  Lord.  You  have  wrestled  with 
the  Lord  for  me,  you  have  wrestled  me  out  of  the  very  jaws 
of  death  itself.  O  the  strength  of  prayer !  Surely  it  is 
stronger  than  death.  See  that  you  even  honour  the  power 
and  prevalency  of  prayer.  Oh  be  in  love  with  prayer,  and 
have  high  and  venerable  thoughts  of  it.  What  distresses, 
diseases,  deaths,  can  stand  before  it?  Surely  I  live  by 
prayer.  Prayer  hath  given  a  resurrection  to  this  body  of 
mine,  when  physicians  and  friends  had  given  up  their 
hopes. 

Ah  !  my  dearly  beloved,  methinks  it  delights  me  to  tell 
the  story  of  your  love.  How  much  more  of  the  love  of  God 
towards  me  I  I  have  not  forgotten,  0  my  dearly  beloved, 
I  have  not  forgotten  your  tender  love  in  all  my  distresses.  I 
remember  your  kindness  to  me  in  my  bonds,  when  once 
and  again  I  was  delivered  up  to  a  prison  for  your  sakes.  I 
remember  with  much  delight,  how  you  refreshed  and  com- 
forted me  in  my  tribulations,  how  open  your  hearts  were; 
and  your  hands  were  not  straitened,  neither, — for  I  was  in 
want  of  nothing.  I  may  not,  I  must  not  forget  what  pain- 
ful  journeys  you  took  to  visit  me,  when  in  places  remote, 
the  hand  of  the  l.ord  had  touched  me ;  and  though  my  long 
sickness  was  almost  incredibly  expensive  to  me,  yet  your 
supplies  did  not  a  little  lighten  my  burden. 

And  though  1  put  it  last,  yet  I  do  not  mind  it  least,  that 
you  have  been  so  ready  in  returning  praises  to  God  in  my 
behalf.  Your  thanksgiving  to  God,  my  dear  brethren,  does 
administer  abundant  cause  to  me  of  my  giving  thanks  unto 
you. 

And  now  my  heart,  methinks,  is  big  to  tell  you  a  little  of 
my  love  to  you  :  Surely  you  are  dear  unto  me  ;  but  though 
it  be  sweet  to  tell  the  story  of  love,  yet  in  this  I  will  restrain 
myself.     For  I  fear  lest,  as  the  wise  man  saith  of  the  begin- 


228  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXIX.) 

11  ing  of  strife,  so  I  should  find  of  the  beginning  of  love,  that 
"  it  is  like  the  letting  forth  of  the  water  ;"  and  the  rather  I 
do  forbear,  because  I  hope  you  have  better  testimonies  than 
words,  to  bear  witness  herein  unto  you. 

But  if  I  sing  the  song  of  love,  O  let  divine  love  overcarry 
the  praise.  I  found  myself  in  straits  when  I  began  to  speak 
of  the  natural  love  between  my  dear  people,  and  an  unwor- 
thy minister  of  Christ  to  them  ;  and  it  seemed  that  all  that 
I  have  said  was  much  too  little  ;  but,  now  I  speak  of  the 
love  of  God.  it  seems  to  be  by  far  too  much. 

0  infinite  Love  never  to  be  comprehended,  but  ever  to  be 
admired,  magnified,  and  adored  by  every  creature  !  O  let 
my  heart  be  filled,  let  my  mouth  be  filled,  let  my  papers  be 
filled,  ever,  ever  filled  with  the  thankful  commemoration  of 
this  matchless  love  !  0  turn  your  eyes  from  other  objects  ! 
0  bury  me  in  forgetful n ess,  and  let  my  love  be  no  more 
mentioned  nor  had  in  remembrance  among  you,  so  that 
you  may  be  thoroughly  possessed  and  inflamed  with  the 
love  of  God. 

This,  my  beloved,  this  is  that  love,  which  is  ever  to  be 
commended  and  extolled  by  you.  See  that  you  study  this 
love  ;  fill  your  souls  with  wonder,  and  feast  your  souls  with 
joy,  and  be  ravished  with  rich  contentment  in  this  divine 
love.  Take  your  daily  walk,  and  lose  yourselves  in  the 
field  of  love.  Drink,  O  friends,  yea  drink  abundantly,  O 
beloved,  fear  no  excess.  O  that  your  souls  may  be  drench- 
ed and  drowned  in  the  love  of  Christ,  till  you  can  every 
one  say  with  the  ravished  spouse,  I  am  sick  of  love.  Mar- 
vel not  that  I  wander  here,  and  seem  to  forget  the  bounds 
of  a  letter; — this  obligeth  me,  yea,  rather  constraineth  me. 
Who  in  all  the  earth  should  admire  and  commend  this  love, 
if  I  should  not  ?  I  feel  it,  I  taste  it  ,•  the  sweet  savour 
thereof  reviveth  my  soul,  it  is  light  to  mine  eyes,  and  life  to 
my  heart.  The  warm  beams  of  this  blessed  sun, — O  how 
they  have  comforted  me,  ravished  and  refreshed  me,  both  in 
body  and  soul!  My  benumbed  limbs,  my  withered  hands, 
my  feeble  kuees,  my  bones  quite  naked  of  flesh,  do  yet 
again  revive  through  the  quickening,  healing,  and  raising 
influence  of  divine  grace  aud  love  No^v  my  own  hands 
can  feed  me,  and  my  ovvn  feet  can  bear  me,  my  appetite  is 
quick,  my  sleep  comfortable,  and  God  is  pleased  to  give 
some  increase  continually,  though  by  insensible  degrees : 
And  shall  not  I  praise  that  love  and  grace  that  hath  done 


THE  KEV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  229 

all  this  for  me  ?  Yea,  what  is  this  to  all  I  have  to  tell  youl 
My  heart  is  enlarged  ;  but  I  told  you  paper  could  not  hold 
what  I  have  to  speak  of  the  goodness  of  the  All-gracious 
God  in  which  I  live.  I  am  forced  to  end,  lest  you  should 
not  bear  my  length.  My  dearly  beloved,  I  send  my  heart 
unto  you,  divide  my  love  among  you  all,  and  particularly 
tender  it  to  your  reverend  and  faithful  pastor,  whose  pre- 
sence with  you,  and  painfulness,  and  watchfulness  over 
you,  and  zeal  and  courage  for  you  in  so  dangerous  a  time, 
is  a  matter  of  my  great  joy  and  thanksgivings  unto  God. 
The  grace  of  our  Lord  Jesus  be  with  you  all.  Fare  you 
well  in  the  Lord. 

I  remain, 

Your  unworthy  minister  and  fervent 

well-wisher  in  the  Lord, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


LETTER  XXX. 

To  the  most  endeared  people,  the  inhabitants  of  Taunton, 
salvation. 

Most  Dearly  Beloved  and  Longed-for,  my  Joy 
AND  Crown, — My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  for  you  is,  that 
you  may  be  saved.  This  is  that  which  I  have  been  praying, 
and  studying  and  preaching  for  these  many  years  ;  and  this 
is  the  end  of  my  venturing  and  suffering,  and  writing,  at 
this  present  time.  God  that  knoweth  all  things, — he  know- 
eth  that  this  is  my  wish,  "  Oh  that  1  could  but  come  at  their 
souls  !"  And  that  this  is  the  prize  and  the  gain  that  I  run 
for, — that  I  might  win  souls.  I  seek  no  other  gifts,  give 
me  your  hearts,  let  me  but  part  between  your  sins  and  you ; 
suffer  me  but  to  save  you  ;  give  me  leave  to  carry  you  over 
to  Jesus  Christ,  and  I  will  not  ask  you  any  more.  I  will 
serve  you  gladly,  I  will  suffer  for  you  thankfully,  so  I  may 
but  save  you.  Do  not  wonder  why  I  follow  you  so  press- 
ingly,  why  I  call  upon  you  so  frequently  ;  let  not  my  im- 
portunity be  grievous  to  you,  all  this  is  but  to  save  you. 
Christ  did  not  bethink  his  blood,  and  shall  I  bethink  my 

2U* 


230  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXX.) 

breath,  or  ink,  too  dear,  in  order  to  your  salvation  ?  What 
a  pity  is  it,  that  any  of  you  should  miscarry  at  last,  under 
the  power  of  ignorance,  or  by  a  profane  negligence,  or  a 
formal  and  lifeless  profession  of  strict  godliness  ! 

Beloved,  I  am  afraid  of  you  lest  (as  to  many  of  you)  I 
have  run  in  vain  I  cannot  but  most  thankfully  acknow- 
ledge, that  (considering  the  paucity  of  those  that  are  saved) 
there  are  not  a  few  of  you  who  are  the  joy  of"  your  minis- 
ters, and  the  glory  of  Christ.  But  it  cannot  be  dissembled, 
that  far  the  greater  number  give  little  ground  to  hope  that 
they  are  in  the  state  of  salvation.  And  must  not  this  be  a 
pinching  thought  to  a  compassionate  teacher,  to  think,  that 
he  cannot  for  his  heart  persuade  men,  but  that  the  most  of 
them  will  wilfully  throw  away  themselves  ?  Is  it  not  a  wo- 
ful  sight  to  behold  the  devils  driving  a  great  part  of  our  mis- 
erable flocks  (as  they  did  once  the  herd  of  swine,  the  keep- 
ers themselves  amazed  looking  on),  1  say,  driving  them 
violently  down  the  hill,  till  they  be  choked  in  the  water, 
and  drowned  irrecoverably  in  the  gulf  of  endless  perdition? 
Ah,  miserable  spectacle  !  What  through  the  wilful  blindness 
of  some,  what  through  the  looseness  and  sensuality  of  others, 
what  through  the  halving,  and  cold  and  customary  religion 
of  others,  how  great  a  number  of  our  poor  flocks  is  Satan 
like  to  carry  utterly  away  from  us,  after  all  that  hath  been 
done  to  save  them. 

Yet  I  cannot  but  call  after  them — "  Hearken  unto  me, 
0  ye  children.  How  long  will  ye  love  vanity,  and  follow 
after  leasing,  and  trust  in  lying  words?  As  the  Lord  liveth. 
you  are  lost  except  you  turn.  Wherefore  turn  yourselves, 
and  live  ye.  Ah  how  mercy  vvooeth  you  !  How  it  waiteth 
to  be  gracious  to  you  ?  Hear,  0  sinners,  hear.  See  you  not 
how  the  merciful  Saviour  of  the  world  stretcheth  forth  his 
hands  all  the  day  long,  and  spreadeth  forth  his  wings,  and 
calleth  you  as  a  hen  doth  her  chickens  !  Hear  you  not  the 
soundings  of  his  bowels?  Pie  hath  no  need  of  you  ;  yet  how 
do  his  companions  melt  over  perishing  sinners?  His  heart  is 
turned  within  him  ;  and  shall  not  this  turn  your  hearts  ?  His 
repentings  are  kindled  together  ;  and  shall  not  this  lead  you 
to  repentance  ?  Behold  he  standeth  at  the  door  and  knocketh. 
0  man,  wilt  thou  keep  Jesus  at  the  door,  and  lodge  Barrab- 
bas  in  thy  bosom,  and  prefer  thy  cruel  lusts  before  thy  com- 
passionate Lord?  O  his  melting  love  to  sinners!  He  call- 
eth after  them  Isa.  Iv.  I.    He  weepeih  over  them,  Luke  xix. 


THE    REV.   JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  231 

41.  42.  He  crieth  to  them,  Pro  v.  i.  21,  22,  23.  How  long 
ye  simple  ones,  will  ye  love  simplicity?  Will  you  not  be 
made  clean?  When  shall  it  once  be?  Why  will  you  die? 
Turn  at  my  reproof:  Behold  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon 
you.  Sinner,  are  thou  not  yet  melted  ?  Oh  come  in  at  his 
loving  calls,  come  out  from  thy  sins  :  touch  the  sceptre  of 
grace  and  live:  Why  shouldst  thou  be  dashed  in  pieces  by 
his  iron  rod  ?  Kiss  the  Son.  Why  shouldst  thou  perish  iu 
the  way?  v^et  up  Jesus  as  thy  King,  lest  he  count  thee  for 
his  enemy,  because  thou  wouldst  not  that  he  should  reigii 
over  thee,  and  so  thou  be  called  forth  and  slain  before  him. 
Oh  how  dreadful  will  this  case  be,  to  perish  under  the  pititul 
eyes  of  his  mercy,  and  to  die  by  the  hand  of  a  Saviour  !  Oh  ! 
double  hell,  to  have  thy  Redeemer  become  thine  execution- 
er !  And  the  hand  that  was  so  long  stretched  forth  to  save 
thee,  to  be  now  stretched  forth  to  slay  thee  !  And  the  mer- 
ciful heart  of  Christ  himself  hardened  against  thee,  so  as  that 
he  should  call  thee  forth,  and  with  his  own  hand  hew  thee  in 
pieces,  as  Samuel  did  Agag  before  the  Lord. 

But  I  have  been  too  long  in  prefacing  to  what  I  intended 
fothwith  to  have  fallen  upon  :  Indeed  I  am  apt  to  run  out 
in  matters  that  do  so  nearly  touch  upon  your  greatest  con- 
cernments. 

Beloved,  I  despair  of  ever  bringing  you  to  salvation,  with- 
out sanctification  :  or  possessing  you  with  happiness,  with- 
out persuading  you  to  holiness.  God  knows,  I  have  not  the 
least  hope  ever  to  see  one  of  your  faces  in  heaven,  except 
you  be  converted  and  sanctified,  and  exercise  yourself  unto 
godliness.  This  is  that  I  drive  at.  1  beseech  you,  study  to 
further  personal  oodliness,  and  family  godliness. 

1.  Personal  godliness.  Let  it  be  your  first  care  to  set  up 
Christ  in  your  hearts.  See  that  you  make  all  your  worldly 
interests  to  stoop  to  him,  that  you  be  entirely  and  unreser- 
vedly devoted  to  him.  If  you  wilfully  and  deliberately, 
and  ordinarily  harbour  any  sin,  you  are  undone.  See  that 
you  unfeignedly  take  the  laws  of  Christ,  as  the  rule  of  your 
words,  thoughts,  and  actions  ;  and  subject  your  whole  man, 
members  and  mind,  faithfully  to  him.  If  you  have  a  true 
respect  to  all  God's  commandments,  you  are  sound  at  heart. 
Oh  study  to  get  the  image  and  impress  of  Christ  upon  you 
within  !  Begin  with  your  hearts,  else  you  build  without  a 
foundation.  Labour  to  get  a  saving  change  within,  or  else 
all  external  performances  will  be  to  no  purpose.     And  then 


232  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXX.) 

study  to  shew  forth  the  power  of  godliness  in  the  life.  Let 
piety  be  your  first  and  orest  business.  It  is  the  highest 
point  of  justice,  to  ^ive  God  his  due.  Beware  that  none  of 
you  be  a  prayerless  person  :  for  that  is  a  most  certain  dis- 
covery of  a  Christiess  and  a  graceless  person,  of  one  that  is 
a  very  stranger  to  the  fear  of  God.  ISuffer  nut  your  Bibles 
to  gather  dust.  See  that  you  converse  daily  with  the  word. 
That  man  can  never  lay  claim  to  blessedness,  whose  delight 
is  not  in  the  law  of  the  Lord.  Let  meditation  and  self-ex- 
amination be  your  daily  exercise,  else  the  papists,  yea  the 
pagans,  will  condemn  us.  That  the  short  questions  which 
I  have  given  you  as  a  helptx)  self-examination,  may  be  daily 
perused  by  you,  is  the  matter  of  my  passionate  request  unto 
you.  If  ever  you  come  to  any  growth  in  holiness,  without 
the  constant  use  of  this  practice,  I  am  grossly  deceived. 
And  therefore  I  would  beseech,  yea,  even  charge  you,  by 
the  Lord,  that  you  would  daily  examine  yourselves  by  these 
questions,  till  you  have  found  a  better  help  to  this  duty. 

But  piety  without  charity,  is  but  the  half  of  Christianity, 
or  rather  impious  hypocrisy.  We  may  not  divide  the  ta- 
bles. See  therefore  that  you  do  justly,  and  love  mercy,  and 
let  equity  and  charity  run,  like  an  even  thread,  throughout 
all  your  dealings.  Be  you  temperate  in  all  things,  and  let 
charity  and  sobriety  be  your  undivided  companions.  Let 
truth  and  purity,  seriousness  and  modesty,  heavenliness  and 
gravity,  be  the  constant  ornaments  of  your  speech.  Let 
patience  and  humility,  simplicity  and  sincerity,  shine  out  in 
all  the  parts  of  your  conversations.  See  that  you  forget  and 
forgive  wrongs,  and  requite  them  with  kindness,  as  you 
would  be  found  children  of  the  Most  High.  Be  merciful  in 
your  censures,  and  put  the  most  favourable  construction  upon 
your  brethren's  carriage  that  their  actions  will  reasonably 
bear.  Be  slow  in  promising,  punctual  in  fulfilling.  Let 
meekness  and  innocency,  affableness,  yieldingness,  and 
courtesy,  commend  your  conversations  to  all  men.  Let 
none  of  your  relations  want  that  love  and  loyalty,  that  rever- 
ence and  duty,  that  tenderness,  care,  and  vigilency,  v/hich 
their  several  places  and  capacities  call  for.  This  is  through- 
out godliness.  I  charge  you  before  the  Most  High  God, 
that  none  of  you  be  found  a  swearer,  or  a  liar,  a  lover  of 
evil  company,  or  a  scoffer,  or  malicious,  or  covetous,  or  a 
drunkard,  or  a  glutton,  unrighteous  in  his  dealing,  unclean 
in  his  living,  or  a  quarreller,  or  a  thief,  or  a  backbiter,  or  a 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  233 

railer;  for  I  denounce  unto  you  from  the  living  God,  that 
destruction  and  damnation  is  the  end  of  all  such.  Prov. 
xiii.  2U.  James  v.  12.  Rev.  xxi.  8.  1  Cor.  vi.  9,  lu. 
GaK  vi,  19,  2U,  21. 

family  godliness.  He  that  hath  set  up  Christ  in  his  heart, 
will  be  sure  to  study  to  set  hini  up  in  his  house.  Let  every 
family  with  you  be  a  christian  church  ;  every  house,  a  house 
of  prayer  ;  every  household,  a  household  of  faith.  Let  every 
housholder  say  with  Joshua,  /  and  my  house  will  serve  the 
Lord;  and  resolve  with  David  (Psalm  cxxi.  2,)  I  icill  walk 
within  my  house,  with  a  perfect  heart.  Let  me  press  upon 
you  a  few  duties,  which  I  have  been  long  harping  upon,  but 
alas  (I  speak  it  to  your  shame)  with  many  (too,  too  many)  of 
you,  to  little  purpose  in  general. 

First,  Let  religion  be  in  your  families,  not  as  a  matter  by 
the  by  (to  be  minded  at  leasure,  when  the  world  will  give 
you  leave),  but  ihe  standing  business  of  the  house.  Let 
them  have  your  prayers,  as  duly  as  their  meals.  Is  there 
any  of  your  families,  but  have  time  for  their  taking  food? 
Wretched  man !  canst  thou  find  time  to  eat  in,  and  not 
time  to  pray  in  ? 

Secondly,  Settle  it  upon  your  hearts,  that  your  souls  are 
bound  up  in  the  souls  of  your  family.  They  are  committed 
unto  you,  and  (If  they  be  lost  through  your  neglect)  will  be 
required  at  your  hands.  Sirs,  if  you  do  not,  you  shall  know 
that  the  charge  of  souls  is  a  heavy  charge,  and  that  the  blood 
of  souls  is  a  heavy  guilt.  O  man,  hast  thou  a  charge  of 
souls  to  answer  for,  and  dost  thou  not  bestir  thyself  tor 
them,  that  their  blood  be  not  found  in  thy  skirts  ?  Wilt 
thou  do  no  more  for  immortal  souls,  than  thou  wilt  do  for 
thy  beasts  that  perish  ?  What  dost  thou  do  for  thy  children 
and  servants  ?  Thou  providest  meat  and  drink  lor  them 
agreeable  to  their  natures  ;  and  dost  thou  not  the  same  for 
thy  beasts  ?  Thou  givest  them  medicines,  and  cherishest 
them  when  they  be  sick  ;  and  dost  thou  not  so  much  for 
thy  swine  ?     More  particularly, 

(1.)  Let  the  solemn  reading  of  the  word,  Isa.  xxxiv.  16, 
Job.  V.  31,  and  singing  of  psalms,  be  your  family  exercises, 
Psal.  cxviii.  15.  See  Christ  singing  with  his  family,  viz. 
his  disciples,  Mat.  xxvi.  3U.     Luke  ix,  18. 

(2.)  Let  every  person  in  your  families  be  duly  called  to 
an  account  of  their  profitinp^  by  the  word  heard  or  read,  as 
they  be  about  doing  your  own  businesses,     'ihis  is  a  duty  of 


234  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXX.) 

consequence  unspeakable,  and  would  be  a  means  to  bring 
those  under  your  charge  to  remember  and  profit  by  what  they 
receive.  See  Christ's  example  in  calling  his  family  to  an 
account,  Mat   xvi.  i  1.  13,  15. 

(3.)  Often  take  an  acccount  of  the  souls  under  your  care, 
concerning  their  spiritual  estates.  Herein  you  must  be  the 
followers  of  (  hrist  ;  Mat.  xiii.  10,  36,  51  ;  Mark  iv.  10, 
II.  Make  inquiry  into  their  conditions;  insist  much  upon 
the  sinfulness  and  misery  of  their  natural  estate,  and  upon 
the  necessity  of  regeneration  and  conversion  in  order  to  their 
salvation.  Admonish  them  gravely  of  their  sins,  encourage 
beginnings.  Follow  them  earnestly  ;  and  let  them  have 
no  quiet  for  you,  till  you  see  them  in  a  saving  change. 
This  is  a  duty  of  high  consequence,  but  (I  am  afraid)  fearfully 
neglected  by  some  that  are  godly.  Doth  not  conscience 
say  "  Thou  art  the  man  ?" 

(4. )  Look  to  the  strict  sanctifying  of  the  Sabbath,  by  all 
of  your  households  ;  Exod.  xx.  10;  Lev.  xxiii.  3.  Many 
poor  families  have  little  time  else.  O  improve  but  your 
Sabbath-days  as  diligently  in  labouring  for  knowledge,  and 
doing  your  Maker's  work,  as  you  do  the  other  days  in  doing 
your  own  work,  and  I  doubt  not  but  you  may  come  to  some 
proficiency. 

(5.)  Let  the  morning  and  evening  sacrifice  of  solemn 
prayer  be  daily  offered  vp  in  all  your  jamilies  ;  Psal.  xcii.  1, 
2  ;  Exod.  XXX.  7,  8  ;  Luke  i.  9,  10  ;  Beware  they  be  not 
found  among  the  families  that  call  not  upon  God's  name; 
for  why  should  there  be  wrath  from  the  Lord  upon  your 
families  ?  Jer.  x.  25.  0  miserable  families,  without  God  in 
the  world,  that  are  without  family  prayer  !  What !  have  you 
so  many  family  sins,  family  wants,  family  mercies?  What! 
and  yet  no  family  prayers'?  How  do  you  pray  with  all  pray- 
er and  supplication,  if  you  do  not  with  family  prayer!  Say 
not,  "  I  have  no  time."  What !  hast  thou  all  thy  time  on 
purpose  to  serve  God,  and  save  thy  t^oul  ?  And  is  this  that 
for  which  thou  canst  find  no  time  ?  Find  but  a  heart,  and  I 
will  find  time.  Pinch  out  of  your  meals  and  sleep,  rather 
than  want  for  prayer.  Say  not  "  my  business  will  not  give 
leave."  This  is  thy  greatest  business,  to  save  thyself,  and 
the  souls  committed  to  thee.  Besides  a  whet  will  be  no  let. 
Li  a  word,  the  blessing  of  all  is  to  be  got  by  prayer  ;  Jer. 
xxxix,  11,12.  2  Sam.  vii.  29.  And  what  is  thy  business  with- 
out God's  blessing?  Say  not,  "I  am  notable."     Use  thy 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH     ALLEINE.  235 

one  talent,  and  God  will  increase  it ;  Mat.  xxv.  24,  &c. 
Helps  are  to  be  had  till  thou  art  better  able.  But  if  there  be 
no  other  remedy,  thou  mayest  join  with  thine  abler  neighbour. 
God  hath  special  regard  to  joint  prayer,  James  v.  14,  to  19  ; 
Acts  xii.  5,  to  12  ;  2  Cor.  i.  1 1  ;  and  therefore  you  must 
improve  family  advantages  for  the  performing  of  it. 

(6.)  Put  every  one  in  your  families  upon  private  prayer. 
Observe  whether  they  do  perform  it.  Get  them  the  help  of 
a  form,  if  they  need  it,  till  they  are  able  to  go  \\  ithout. 
Direct  them  how  to  pray,  by  minding  them  of  their  sins, 
wants,  and  mercies,  the  materials  of  prayer.  This  was  the 
practice  of  John,  and  of  Jesus,  Luke  xi.  1,  2. 

(7.)  Set  up  catechising  in  your  families,  at  the  least  once 
every  week.  It  was  my  partinor,  dying  request,  that  you 
would  setup  and  maintain  this  duty  in  your  families.  Have 
you  done  it  all  accordingly?  Cannot  your  consciences 
witness,  caunotyou  families  witness,  you  have  not?  Well, 
I  thought  my  parting  words  would  have  done  something  with 
you  :  I  hoped  the  fervent  request  of  a  dying  minister,  would 
have  prevailed  for  such  a  small  matter  with  you.  What ! 
to  this  day  without  a  solemn  catechising  in  your  houses? 
Ah,  what  a  discouragement  to  your  teacher  is  this  ?  Bre- 
thren, shall  I  yet  prevail  with  you?  Will  you  reject  me  now 
also  ?  O  let  me  persuade  you,  before  you  take  off  your  eyes 
from  these  lines,  to  resolve  to  set  upon  the  constant  exercise 
of  this  duty.  Surely  I  have  done  and  suffered  more  for  you 
than  this  comes  to.  Will  you  deny  me  ?  I  beseech  you,  let 
me  find,  if  ever  God  do  bring  me  again  to  visit  your  houses, 
that  the  words  of  a  suffering  minister  have  some  power  with 
you.  I  have  sent  you  a  help  on  purpose.  What !  shall  all 
my  persuasions  be  but  speak iug  in  the  wind  ?  And  all  my 
pains  but  labouring  in  the  fire?  Beloved,  you  have  no  dread 
of  the  Almi<jhty's  charge, — That  you  stiould  teach  these 
things  diligenlly  to  your-  children,  and  talk  to  them  as  you 
sit  in  your  houses,  i^-c.  (Deut.  vi.  6,  7,  8,  9,  and  iv.  9,  U), 
and  xi.  18,  19,  2U),  and  train  them  up  in  the  way  ihey  shoidd 
go  (Prov.  XX ii.  6,  in  the  margin).  Hath  God  so  commend, 
ed  Abraham,  that  he  would  teach  his  children  and  household 
(Gen.  xviii.  19.),  and  that  he  had  so  many  instructed  ser- 
vants (Gen.  xiv.  14,  in  the  margin),  and  given  such  promise 
to  them  thereupon,  and  will  not  you  put  in  for  a  share,  nei- 
ther in  the  praise  nor  the  promise  ?  Hath  Christ  honoured 
catechising  with  his  presence  (Luke  ii.  46),  and  will  not 


236  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET,   XXX.) 

you  own  it  with  your  practice?  Say  not,  "  They  are  care- 
less and  will  not  learn."  What  have  you  your  authority  for, 
if  not  to  use  it  for  God,  and  the  good  of  their  souls  ?  You 
call  them  up,  and  force  them  to  do  your  work  ;  and  should 
you  not  at  least  be  as  zealous  in  putting  them  upon  God's 
works  ?  Say  not,  "•  They  are  dull  and  are  not  capable." 
If  they  be  dull,  God  requires  of  you  the  more  pains  and  pa- 
tience ;  but  so  dull  as  they  are  you  will  make  them  learn 
how  to  work  ;  and  can  they  not  learn  as  well  how  to  live  1 
Are  they  capable  of  the  mysteries  of  your  trade,  and  are 
they  not  capable  of  the  plain  principles  of  religion  1  Well  ! 
as  ever  you  would  see  the  growth  of  religion,  the  cure  of 
iornorance,  the  remedy  of  profaneness,  the  downfall  of  error, 
fulfil  you  my  joy  in  going  through  with  this  duty. 

1  have  been  too  long-  already,  and  yet  I  am  afraid  my  let- 
ter will  be  ended  before  my  work  be  done.  How  loth  am  I 
to  leave  you,  before  I  have  prevailed  with  you  to  set  to  the 
work  to  which  you  are  here  directed  !  Will  you  pass  your 
promise,  will  you  give  me  your  hands  ?  Oh  that  you  would  ! 
You  cannot  do  me  a  greater  pleasure.  Ask  what  you  will 
of  me  ;  see  if  I  will  not  do  as  much  for  you.  Oh  that  your 
families  might  be  a  joy  to  me,  as  that  twice  noble  lady's  to 
John  ;  who  professes  he  had  no  greater  joy,  than  to  find  her 
children  walking  in  the  truth  !  Beloved,  why  should  you 
not  give  the  hand  one  to  another,  and  mutually  engage  each 
to  other,  for  more  vigorous  and  diligent  endeavours,  in  pro- 
moting  family  godliness  ?  I  must  tell  you,  God  looks  for 
more  than  ordinary  from  you,  in  such  a  day  as  this.  He 
expects  that  you  should  do  both  in  your  hearts  and  in  your 
houses,  somewhat  more  than  ever,  under  these  his  extraor- 
dinary dispensations.  My  most  dearly  beloved,  mine  own 
bowels  in  the  Lord,  will  you  satisfy  the  longings  of  a  tra- 
vailing minister?  V\  ill  you  answer  the  calls  of  divine 
providence  ?  Would  you  remove  the  incumbent,  or  prevent 
the  impending  calamities?  W^ould  you  plant  nurseries  for 
the  church  of  God  ?  Would  you  that  God  should  build  your 
houses,  and  bless  your  substance?  Would  you  that  your 
children  should  bless  you ;  that  your  father  should  bless 
you?  Oh,  then  set  up  piety  in  your  families,  as  ever  you 
would  be  blessed  or  be  a  blessing!  Let  your  hearts  and 
your  houses  be  the  temples  of  the  living  God,  in  which 
his  worship  (according  to  all  theforemeutioned  direcctions) 
may  be  with  constancy  reverently  performed.     Pardon  my 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  237 

prolixity  and  importunity  in  so  earnest  pursuing  of  you  ;  I 
am  yet  afraid  I  iiave  done  too  soon,  and  shall  end  without 
my  errand.  The  Lord  God  persuade  you  !  To  Him  I  turu 
me  ;  for  I  am  well  assured  he  can  prevail  with  you  : 

O  FATHER  of  Spirits,  that  hath  set  me  over  thy  flock 
to  watch  for  their  souls,  as  one  that  must  give  an  account, 
I  have  long  studied  thy  will,  and  taught  in  thy  name,  and 
do  uufeignedly  bless  thee  that  any  have  believed  my  report. 
I  have  given  unto  them  the  words  which  thou  gavest  me, 
and  they  have  received  them.  I  have  manifested  thy  name 
unt-^  them,  and  they  have  kept  thy  word.  And  now  I  am 
no  more  with  them,  but  I  come  unto  thee.  Holy  Father, 
keep  them  through  thine  own  name  ;  for  they  are  thine.  As 
they  have  kept  the  word  of  thy  patience,  so  keep  thou  them 
in  the  hour  of  temptation.  They  are  but  a  flock,  a  little 
and  a  helpless  flock  ;  but  thou  art  their  shepherd  ;  sufler 
them  not  to  want.  Do  thou  feed  them  and  fold  them.  Let 
thy  rod  and  thy  staff'  comfort  them  ;  and  let  not  the  beasts 
of  prey  fall  upon  them,  to  the  spoiling  of  their  souls. 

But  what  shall  I  do  for  them  that  will  not  be  gathered  ? 
I  have  called  after  them,  but  they  would  not  answer ;  I  have 
charged  them  in  thy  name,  but  they  would  not  hear  ;  I  have 
studied  to  speak  persuasively  to  them,  but  I  cannot  prevail. 
Then  I  said  "  I  have  laboured  in  vain  ;  I  have  spent  my 
strength  for  nought,  and  in  vain  ;"  yet  I  cannot  give  them 
over,  much  less  may  I  give  thee  over.  Lord,  persuade  Ja- 
phet  to  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Shem.  Lord,  compel  them  to 
come  in,  and  lay  the  hands  of  mercy  upon  them,  as  thou 
didst  on  lingering  Lot,  and  bring  them  forth,  that  they  may 
escape  for  their  lives  and  not  be  consumed.  Lord,  I  pray 
thee,  open  their  eyes  that  they  may  see,  and  lay  hold  upon 
their  hearts  by  thy  omnipotent  grace.  Do  thou  turn  them, 
and  they  shall  be  turned.  O  bring  back  the  miserable  cap- 
tives, and  suffer  not  the  enemy  of  mankind  to  drive  away 
the  most  of  the  flock  before  mine  eyes,  and  to  deride  the 
fruitless  endeavours  of  thy  labourers,  and  boast  over  them 
that  he  can  do  no  more  with  them,  though  he  seek  to  ruin 
them,  than  all  the  beseechings,  counsels,  and  charges  of 
thy  servants  that  seek  to  save  them.  Lord,  if  I  could  find 
out  any  thing  that  would  pierce  them,  that  would  make  its 
way  into  their  hearts,  thou  knowest  I  would  use  it.  But  I 
have  been  many  years  pleading  thy  cause  in  vain.  O  let 
not  these  endeavours  also  be  lost  !     0  God,  find  out  every 

21 


236  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  XXXI.) 

ignorant,  every  profane  sinner,  every  prayerless  soul,  and 
every  prayerless  family,  and  convince  them  of  their  miser- 
able condition,  while  without  thee  in  the  world.  Set  thy 
image  upon  their  souls,  set  up  thy  worship  in  their  families. 
Let  not  pride,  ignorance,  or  slothfulness,  keep  them  in  ne- 
glect of  the  means  of  knowledge.  Let  thine  eyes  be  over 
the  place  of  my  desires  for  good,  from  one  end  of  the  year 
to  the  other  end  thereof  Let  every  house  therein  be  a 
seminary  of  religion  ;  and  let  those  that  cast  their  eyes  upon 
these  lines,  find  thee  sliding  in,  by  the  secret  influence  of 
thy  grace,  into  their  hearts,  and  irresistibly  engaging  them 
to  do  thy  pleasure.     Amen.     Amen. 


LETTER  XXXL 

I  He  that  endureth  to  the  end  shall  be  saved.] 

To  the  loving  and  well-beloved,  the  servants  of  Christ  in 
Huntingdon,  grace  and  peace. 

Most  Dear  Christians, — I  do  thankfully  acknowledge, 
both  to  you,  that  I  am  many  ways  obliged  to  love  and  serve 
you  :  And  surely  when  the  Lord  shall  turn  our  captivity 
I  will  (through  his  grace)  endeavour  to  shew  myself  thank- 
ful, wherein  I  may,  unto  you.  I  am  the  more  sensible  of 
your  great  love,  because  I  cannot  be  insensible  how  little  I 
have  deserved  such  a  mercy,  and  how  little  I  have  beea 
able  to  do  to  oblige  you.  Jlhle,  I  say  ;  for  I  am  sure, 
I  have  been  willing  to  be  much  more  serviceable  to  you. 
But  now,  letters  and  prayers  are  all  that  I  have  for  you  ;  of 
these  I  shall  be  ready  to  be  prodigal.  Your  love  to  me  hath 
been  very  bountiful  :  I  may  not  forget  the  liberal  supplies 
that  you  have  sent,  many  of  you  even  out  of  your  poverty, 
to  me;  and  not  to  me  only  but  to  the  whole  family  of  my 
brethren,  and  fellow  prisoners,  who  do  all  bless  you,  and 
send  by  these  with  me  their  thanklul  respects  unto  you.  I 
fervently  pray,  and  do  not  doubt  to  speed,  that  you  may  reap 
in  grace  and  glory  what  you  have  sworn  to  us  in  bounty. 
Verily,  there  is  a  reward  for  the  righteous.  Ah,  how  sure 
is  it  ?  And  how  great  and  how  near  is  it  ? 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  239 

Come  on,  my  dear  brethren,  and  fellow-travellers.  Stir 
up  yourselves  and  set  to  your  race.  See  that  you  loiter  not, 
but  speed  apace  in  your  holy  course.  What  ?  tire  by  the 
way  or  think  of  looking  back,  when  heaven  is  the  prize? 
God  forbid.  To  him  that  soweth  righteousness  there  shall 
be  a  sure  reward.  What  though  it  should  seem  slow  :  As 
long  as  it  is  so  sure,  and  so  great,  never  be  discouraged.  In 
the  end  you  shall  reap,  if  you  faint  not.  Wait  but  a  while, 
and  you  shall  have  a  blessed  harvest.  The  Lord  speaks  to 
the  christian,  as  he  to  his  creditor  in  another  case,  "  Have 
patience  with  me,  and  I  will  pay  thee  all."  Oh,  now  for 
faith  and  patience!  How  safely,  how  sweetly  would  these 
carry  us  to  our  home  and  harbour,  through  all  difficulties  ! 
Brethren  beloved,  be  followers  of  them  who  through  faith 
and  patience  inherit  the  promises.  It  is  want  of  patience 
that  undoes  the  world,  Patience,  I  mean,  not  so  much  in  the 
bearing  the  inflicted  evil,  as  in  waiting  for  the  deferred  good. 
If  the  reward  of  religion  would  be  presently  in  hand,  who 
would  not  be  religious'?  Who  but  the  deceittul  world  count 
it  doubtful  and  distant  1  And  they  are  all  for  something  in 
hand,  and  to  take  it  up  with  a  present  felicity.  The  Lord 
deals  all  upon  trust ;  and  upon  that  account  is  but  little  dealt 
with.  You  must  have  patience,  and  be  content  to  plough 
and  sow,  and  wait  for  the  return  of  all  the  harvest,  when 
this  life  is  ended.  They  that  like  not  religion  upon  these 
terms  may  see  where  they  can  mend  their  markets.  But 
you,  my  brethren,  be  steadtast,  unmoveable,  abounding  in 
the  work  of  the  Lord;  for  as  much  as  you  know  your  labour 
shall  not  be  in  vain  in  the  Lord.  Wait  a  little,  there  is  but 
a  short  life  between  you  and  the  blessed  inheritance  of  the 
endless  glory.  Ah,  wretched  unbelievers !  How  worthy 
are  you  to  be  shut  for  ever  out  of  the  kingdom,  that  did  so 
undervalue  all  the  glory  that  God  hath  promised,  as  not  to 
count  it  sufficient  to  pay  them  for  a  little  waiting  ! 

Beloved,  lift  up  your  eyes  and  behold  your  inheritance, — 
the  good  land  that  is  beyond  the  Jordan,  and  that  goodly 
mountain.  The  promises  are  a  map  of  heaven.  Do  but 
view  it  believingly  and  considerately,  as  it  is  darkly  drawn 
there,  and  tell  me,  what  think  you  of  that  worthy  portion, 
that  goodly  heritage  ?  Will  not  all  this  make  you  amends 
for  your  stay  ?  Why,  then,  act  like  believers.  Never  be^ 
think  the  pains,  nor  expenses  of  religion.  Let  no  man 
fear  he  shall  come  off  a  loser.     What !  though  you  are  much 


240  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXXI.) 

upon  the  spending  hand:  I  might  tell  you,  God  is  before- 
hand with  you,  however.  But  I  would  have  you  principally 
to  look  forward.  It  is  much  that  God  hath  laid  out  upon 
you  ;  but  who  can  tell  what  he  hath  laid  up  tor  them  that 
fear  him? 

And  will  you  miss  of  all,  for  want  of  patience  ?  God  for- 
bid. Behold,  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruits 
of  the  earth,  and  hath  long  patience,  till  he  receive  the  early 
and  latter  rain.  Be  ye  also  paitent,  stablish  your  hearts, 
for  the  coming  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh.  What  !  shall  the 
husbandman  have  more  patience  for  the  fruits  of  the  earth, 
than  you  for  the  precious  tVuits  of  your  faith  ?  The  husband- 
man hath  no  such  certanty  as  you.  He  hath  but  a  proba- 
bility of  a  harvest  ;  and  yet  he  hath  patience  ;  he  is  content 
to  venture.  He  is  at  great  pains,  and  much  cost,  he  is  still 
laying  out,  and  hath  nothing  coming  in  ;  and  yet  he  is  con- 
tent to  wait  for  his  reimbursement,  till  the  corn  be  grown. 
But  your  harvest  is  most  sure,  as  sure  as  the  irrevocable  de- 
cree,  the  infallible  promise,  the  immutable  oath  of  a  God,  a 
God  that  cannot  lie,  that  knows  no  place  for  repentance,  can 
make  it. 

Again,  the  husbandman  hath  no  such  increase  to  look  for 
as  you.  Oh,  if  he  were  but  sure  that  every  corn  would 
bear  a  crown,  with  what  exultation  and  joy,  rather  than 
patience,  would  he  go  through  all  his  cost  and  labour  !  Why, 
brethren,  such  is  a  believer's  increase.  Every  grain  shall 
produce  a  crown  ;  and  every  tear  shall  bring  forth  a  pearl  ; 
and  every  minute  in  pains  or  prayers,  an  age  of  joy"  and 
glory.  Besides,  the  husbandman  hath  long  patience;  and 
will  not  you  have  a  littJe  patience  ?  Is  it  not  long  patience 
that  God  doth  expect  of  you.  For,  behold,  the  coming  of 
the  Lord  draweth  nigh.  Will  the  garrison  yield  when  relief 
is  at  hand?  Or  the  merchant  sit  down  and  give  up  his 
hopes,  when  within  sight  of  the  harbour  ?  Or  will  the  hus- 
bandman despond,  and  give  up  all  for  lost,  when  he  sees  the 
fields  even  white  for  the  harvest  ?  Or  shall  he  do  more  for 
a  crop  of  corn,  than  you  will  do  for  a  crop  of  glory  ?  Far  be 
it.  Behold  the  judge  is  even  at  the  door.  The  Lord  is  at 
hand.  He  cometh  quickly,  and  his  reward  is  with  him. 
He  comes  with  the  crown  in  his  hand,  to  set  upon  the  head 
of  patience.  Therefore  cast  not  away  your  confidence, 
which  has  great  recompence  of  reward. 

The  prisoners  of  the  Lord,  your  brethren  in  the  patience 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  241 

of  Jesus,  can  tell  you,  it  is  good  suffering  for  such  a  Master. 
We  must  tell  you,  as  they  said  to  our  Lord  in  another  case, 
'*  he  is  worthy  for  whom  you  should  do  this."  God  is  be- 
yond measure  gracious  to  us  here.  He  shines  bright  into 
our  prison,  blessed  be  his  name  !  He  waters  us  from  hea- 
ven and  earth.  As,  we  trust,  you  forget  not  the  poor  pri- 
soners when  you  pray;  so  we  would  that  many  thanks, 
givings  should  abound  in  our  behalf.  And  prayer  being  the 
only  key  that  can  open  our  prisons,  we  trust  that  you  will 
not  slack,  nor  let  your  hands  be  heavy,  but  pray  and  not 
faint ;  and  doubtless  prayer  will  do  it.  But  I  am  apt  to  pass 
the  bounds  of  a  letter,  yet  1  promise  myself  now  an  easy 
pardon  for  so  loving  a  trespass.  With  my  dear  loves  to  you 
all,  I  commend  you  to  God,  and  the  word  of  his  grace. 
Though  I  have  done  writing,  yet  not  praying.  I  will  pro- 
mise, where  my  letter  ends,  my  prayers  shall  begin.  Fare- 
well, dear  brethren  ;  fare  you  well  in  the  Lord.     I  am, 

An  unworthy  Ambassador  of  Jesus  in  bonds, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

From  the  Prison  at  Juelchester, 
29th  Oct.  1663. 


LETTER  XXXn. 

[His  perseverance.] 

To  my  dear  friends,  the  servants  of  Christ  in  Luppit, 
salvation. 

Belovkd  Christians, — Having  taken  up  a  resolution  to 
write  to,  and  to  endeavour  to  confirm,  all  the  places  where 
I  have  gone  up  and  down  preaching  the  kingdom  of  God, 
you  were  by  no  means  to  be  omitted.  You  were  the  people 
tliat  were  last  upon  my  heart,  before  my  taken  up  ;  and  had 
I  not  been  made  a  prisoner,  I  think  I  had  in  a  few  hours 
after  the  time  of  my  apprehension  been  with  you.  Now  I 
can  no  way,  but  by  prayers,  letters,  and  coansels,  visit  you ; 
and  so  have  sent  these,  to  let  you  know  that  you  are  upon 
my  heart,  and  that  your  welfare  is  dear  unto  me.  I  bless  the 
Lord  to  hear  that  his  work  doth  not  cease  among  you.  It 
21* 


242  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXXII.) 

is  the  joy  of  our  bonds,  beloved,  to  hear  that  the  word  is  not 
bound,  and  that  Satan  hath  not  his  design  upon  the  people 
of  God,  who  doubtless  intended  by  these  sufferings  to  have 
struck  terror  into  them,  and  to  have  made  their  hands  weak. 

Know  dear  christians,  that  the  bonds  of  the  gospel  are 
not  tedious  through  grace  unto  us  ;  that  Christ  is  a  master 
worth  suffering  for ;  that  there  is  really  enough  in  religion 
to  defray  all  our  charges,  and  to  quit  all  the  cost  and  expense 
you  can  be  at  in  or  upon  it ;  that  you  may  build  upon  it, 
that  you  can  never  be  losers  by  Jesus  Christ  ;  that  Christ's 
prison  is  better  than  the  world's  paradise  ;  that  the  divine 
attributes  are  alone  an  all-sufficient  livelihood  ;  that  the  in- 
fluences of  heaven,  and  shines  of  God's  countenance,  are 
sufficient  to  lighten  the  darksomest  dungeon,  and  to  perfume 
and  sweeten  the  noisomest  prison  to  a  poor  believer;  that  if 
you  can  bring  faith  and  patience,  and  the  assurance  of  the 
Divine  favour  with  you  to  a  prison,  you  will  live  comforta- 
bly in  spite  of  earth  and  hell.  These  are  truths  that  the  pri- 
soners of  Christ  in  a  measure  seal  unto  ;  and  I  would 
have  you  to  be  more  soundly  assured  of  and  established  in 
them. 

Brethren,  we  are  of  the  same  mind  in  a  prison  that  we 
were  of  in  the  pulpit ;  that  there  is  no  life  to  a  life  of  holi- 
ness ;  that  Christ,  and  his  yoke,  and  his  cross,  are  worthy 
of  all  acceptation  ;  that  it  is  the  best,  and  wisest,  and  safest, 
and  gainfulest  course  in  the  world,  to  stick  close  to  Christ 
and  his  ways,  and  to  adhere  to  them  in  all  hazards,  (^ome 
on,  beloved  Christians,  come  on  ;  slack  not  your  pace,  but 
give  diligence  to  the  full  assurance  of  hope  unto  the  end,  and 
be  ye  followers  of  them  who  through  faith  and  patience  in- 
herit the  promises.  Strengthen  the  hands  that  hang  down, 
and  the  feeble  knees.  If  you  faint  in  the  day  of  adversity, 
your  strength  is  small. 

Cheer  up,  my  brethren  ;  look  what  a  crown,  what  a  king- 
dom here  is  :  What  say  you  ?  Is  not  here  a  worthy  por- 
tion, a  goodly  heritage  ?  Were  it  not  pity  to  lose  all  this 
for  want  of  diligence  and  patience  ?  Come,  dear  Christians, 
and  fellow-travellers,  I  pray  you,  let  us  put  on.  Pluck  up 
the  weary  limbs  ;  our  house  is  within  sight.  Lift  up  your 
eyes  trom  the  Pisgah  of  the  promises.  You  may  see  the 
land  of  rest.  Will  any  of  you  think  of  returning  into  Egypt? 
God  forbid  !  A  little  patience,  and  Christ  will  come.  Be- 
hold, the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the  precious  fruits  of  the 


THE    REV,    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  243 

earth,  and  hath  long  patience  till  he  receive  the  early  and 
latter  rain  :  Be  ye  also  patient,  stahlish  your  hearts,  lor  the 
coming  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh.  He  is  not  a  Christian 
indeed,  that  cannot  be  content  to  tarry  for  his  preferment  in 
another  world.  Cast  upon  it  my  brethren,  that  your  king, 
dom  is  not  of  this  world  ;  that  here  you  must  have  tribula- 
tions ;  and  that  all  is  well,  as  long  as  we  are  secured  for 
eternity.  Exhort  one  another  daily:  Strive  together  in 
prayer,  unite  your  strength  therein,  and  pull  amain  :  Mercy 
will  come  sooner  or  later  ;  however,  we  will  be  content  to 
wait  till  the  coming  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Ah,  how 
surely  will  he  come  !  He  will  render  tribulation  to  them 
that  trouble  us  ;  and  to  us  that  are  troubled,  rest  with  him. 
Only  believe  and  wait. 

What!  not  watch  with  him  one  hour?  Why  the  Judge 
is  even  at  the  door !  And  how  blessed  will  you  be,  if  you 
do  but  continue  and  hold  fast  till  he  come  !  Watch  there- 
fore, and  stand  fast,  quit  you  like  men  :  Be  zealous,  and  let 
your  hearts  be  strong  :  God  is  your  friend,  and  you  may 
trust  him.  He  is  able  to  bear  you  out,  and  bear  you  up. 
Faint  not  therefore,  but  be  steadfast,  unmoveable,  abounding 
in  the  works  of  the  Lord.  Speak  often  one  to  another,  pro- 
voke to  love,  and  to  good  works.  Let  the  bay  of  opposition 
against  godliness,  make  the  torrent  of  your  zeal  break  over 
with  the  more  violence.  But  it  is  time  to  end.  I  have  been 
bold  to  call  upon  you,  you  see,  and  to  stir  you  up  by  way  of 
remembrance.  May  the  Spirit  of  the  Most  High  God  ex- 
cite you,  encourage  you,  enflame  you!  May  these  poor 
lines  be  some  quickeninsj  to  you  !  May  the  good-will  of 
Him  that  dwelt  in  the  bush  dwell  with  you  !  My  dear  loves 
to  you  all.  Pray  for  the  prisoners.  Farewell,  dear  brethren, 
farewell  in  the  Lord.     I  am, 

Yours  in  the  bonds  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine.. 

OU.  11,  1665. 


244  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXXHI.) 

LETTER  XXXIII. 

[To  a  Backsliding  Fellow-Student.J 

Sir, — Whom  this  will  find  you,  or  u^hen,  or  where,  I  know 
not;  but  I  have  shot  this  arrow  at  a  venture.  Once  you 
were  an  associate  with  me  in  Corpus  Christi ;  I  remember 
your  blameless  conversation,  and  your  zealous  affection  for, 
and  adhesion  to,  the  ways  and  people  of  God.  May  you  be 
still  found  in  the  same  paths  of  holiness,  without  which  no 
man  shall  see  God  ?  The  vows  of  God  are  upon  me  (which, 
I  confess,  I  have  been  too  slack  to  pay)  that  I  would  put 
you  in  remembrance,  and  in  all  brotherly  tenderness  advise 
you  to  remember  from  whence  you  are  fallen.  I  was  inform- 
ed, before  your  leaving  of  England,  of  many  unhappy  miscar- 
riages, which,  to  the  great  reproach  of  your  holy  profession, 
you  had  been  too  manifestly  guilty  of.  I  am  not  without 
some  hope,  that  the  Lord  may  have  since  recalled  you,  and 
brought  you  back  to  himself:  And  yet  not  without  more 
fear,  lest,  if  the  power  of  corruption  were  so  strong  as  to 
precipitate  you  with  such  violence,  at  such  a  time  as  that 
was,  and  in  such  a  place  as  England,  or  Oxon,  where  you 
had  so  many  encouragements  and  inducements,  examples, 
and  faithful,  friendly,  watchful  observers,  you  may  now 
much  more  be  carried  away,  in  such  a  place  and  among 
such  company,  as  now  you  may  be  likely  to  be  in. 

Sir,  I  beseech  you  to  be  assured,  that  nothing  but  the  con- 
science of  my  duty  hath  engaged  me,  now  you  have  been 
so  many  years  a  stranger  to  me,  and  are  at  so  many  thou- 
sand miles  distant  from  me,  to  write  notwithstanding  to 
you.  And  I  beseech  you,  bear  a  little  with  me.  Is  it  wis- 
dom, after  you  have  begun  in  the  Spirit,  to  end  in  the  flesh  1 
You  did  run  well,  who  hath  hindered  you  ?  I  remember 
your  strict  walkings,  your  holy  converse,  your  many  tears  : 
Will  you  lose  the  things  that  you  have  wrought?  Have  you 
found  out  another,  a  nearer  way  to  heaven  ?  Do  you  hope 
to  get  in  at  the  wide  gate,  in  the  broad  way  ?  Need  I  to 
mind  you,  that  it  had  been  better  for  you  never  to  have 
known  the  way  of  life,  than,  after  you  have  known  it,  to 
turn  aside  from  the   holy  commandment?     Can  you  ever 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  245 

enter  into   God's  hill,  without  you   be  of  clean  hands  and 
pure  heart? 

I  know,  you  are  not  ignorant  that  strait  is  the  gate,  and 
narrow  is  the  way  that  leadeth  unto  life,  and  few  there  be 
that  find  it :  And  will  you  yet  do  as  the  most,  and  decline 
the  way  of  strictness  and  holy  self-denial,  and  ^ive  the  flesh 
the  reins?  What!  when  God  that  cannot  lie  hath  said,  If 
you  live  after  the  ^esh,  you  shall  die?  Do  you  not  know 
that  you  do  in  vain  name  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  except  you  depart  from  iniquity  ?  I  am  sure  you 
know  it  :  Oh,  Sir,  consider  it,  improve  it.  Oh!  have  you 
so  learnt  Christ,  as  to  think  that  the  way  of  carnal  liberty 
and  looseness,  the  way  of  evil  company  and  fleshliness,  is 
the  way  to  eternal  life? 

I  am  not  for  tying  up  salvation  to  this  or  that  opinion  : 
But  certainly,  let  men  be  of  what  opinion  they  will,  without 
strictness,  self-denial,  and  holy  diligence,  they  cannot  be 
saved  ;—( Mat.  xvi.  42  ;  Mat.  ix.  12;  1  Pet."i.  15,  16.) 
Once  you  could  say  with  David,  I  am  a  companion  to  all 
hem  that  fear  thee :  Is  it  so  now  ?  O  sir,  let  not  the 
wicked  entice  you.  Hath  not  God  said,  Ji  companion  of 
fools  shall  be  destroyed  (Prov.  xiii.  2  *.)  ;  that  you  must 
forsake  the  foolish  if  you  desire  to  live?   (Prov.  ix.  6.) 

Sir,  I  have  no  more  hopes  ever  to  meet  you  more  on 
earth  :  0  that  I  might  meet  you  in  heaven  !  Let  us  tread  the 
same  path  of  holiness,  and  then  we  shall  doubtless  meet  there. 
But  surely  you  must  deeply  and  timely  repent  of,  and  return 
from,  your  grievous  backslidings,  or  else  I  desire  never  to 
meet  in  your  heaven.  But  why  should  not  we,  that  h  -ve 
so  often  met  in  serious  and  holy  prayer  together,  we  that  have 
so  often  met  at  the  Lord's  table  together,  we  that  have  so 
often  eaten  together,  and  fasted  together,  meet  in  glory  toge- 
ther. I  beseech  you,  dear  Sir,  if  the  Lord  hath  not  already 
smitten  you  to  the  dust,  and  broken  you,  and  reduced  to  the 
ways  of  holiness,  now  consider  your  ways,  and  turn  your 
feet  to  his  testimonies.  Oh,  remember  that  the  backslider 
in  heart  shall  be  filled  with  his  own  ways.  God  hath  said  it, 
and  who  shall  reverse  it? — If  any  man  draw  hack,  my  soul 
shall  have  no  pleasure  in  him.  And  once  again.  When  the 
righteous  turneth  away  from  his  righteousness,  and  commiteth 
iniquity,  shall  he  live  ?     In  his  trespass  that    he   hath  tres- 


246  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET,  XXXIV.) 

passed,  shall  he  not  die  ?     I   know  prayers  can  reach  you, 
though   at    so   vast  a   distance  ;   I  shall  add  them  to   tlieso 
counsels,  and  commit  you  to  God,  remaining 
Your  real  friend  in  Christ, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

Jdelchester,  May  IS,  1664. 


LETTER  XXXIV. 

[Good  Counsel  to  his  Wife.] 

My  Most  Dsar  Theodosia, — Thou  seemest  to  have 
been  long  from  me:  Let  nothing  any  longer  detain  thee, 
but  my  sister's  necessity,  or  father's  authority.  I  am  very 
sorry  that  thou  shouldst  lose  two  sacraments.  lam  in  a  com. 
fortable  state  of  health,  through  divine  goodness,  to  which 
be  glory  for  ever!  See  that  thou  love  and  admire  that  Foun- 
tain of  our  life  and  peace  ;  and  be  ever  mindful  that  it  is  all 
thy  business  to  love,  and  serve,  and  praise  thy  Creator  and 
Redeemer.  I  have  no  other  business  but  this,  to  write  to 
thee  about:  But  this  is  all  our  business.  V\  hat  we  use  to 
call  business  is  but  vanity  and  pastime,  and  some  bye  matter, 
in  comparison  of  this. 

Remember  and  forget  not,  that  it  is  thy  chief  end  to  glo- 
rity  God,  and  enjoy  him  for  ever.  Learn  well  that  lesson  ; 
and  know  that  it  is  the  one  thing  necessary.  Every  morn- 
ing remember  that  thy  serving  and  pleasing  of  God,  is  the 
whole  business  of  that  day,  and  therefore  set  out  according- 
ly with  an  express  design  and  intention  to  please  God  in 
thy  eating,  drinking,  visiting,  conversing,  calling,  and  duties 
of  thy  relations  throughout  the  day.  My  most  dear  heart,  [ 
have  nothing  in  the  world  that  doth  concern  thee,  or  me  so 
much  to  write  of  to  thee,  as  this  is  Oh,  that  thou  mayst 
still  be  laying  up  in  heaven  ;  still  furthering  thy  account; 
still  adding  to  the  heap,  and  increasing  thy  glorious  reward! 
Nothing  is  done  f)r  God,  but  thou  shalt  hear  of  it  again. 
Whatever  is  not  done  for  God,  is  but  so  much  lost.  Those 
things  which  others  do,  being  led  by  their  natural  affections 
and  desires,  those  things  do  thou  do  with  holy  aims  for  spi. 
ritual  ends  ;  and  then  God  will  put  it  on  the  account,  as  so 
much  done  for  him.    So  it  is,  my  dearest ;  God  keeps  a  true 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  247 

account.  See  that  thou  believe  it,  and  so  plough  in  hope,  and 
sow  in  hope  ;  pray  and  hear,  with  an  eye  to  the  sure  reward. 
Let  thy  hopes  be  strong  and  lively  ;  and  then  thy  hands  will 
be  strong,  and  thy  resolutions  and  affections  will  be 
strong.  My  time  is  very  precious,  and  I  would  not  lose  an 
inch  of  it.  See  thou  to  it,  that  my  time  in  writing  this  let- 
ter be  not  lost  time.  Love  God  the  more,  and  set  thine 
heart  the  straighter  towards  him,  and  do  but  practice  this  one 

thing, IN    EVEllY  SOLEMN   ACTION   TO     LOOK   TO    THY  ENDS  ; 

and  then  I  have  got  well,  and  thou  better  by  these  counsels. 
My  dearest,  I  love  thee  in  truth  and  tenderness ;   but  my 
love  signifies   little,  unless    it   serve  thine  eternal  good.     I 
rest 

Thine  own, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


LETTER  XXXV. 

[Desires  after  Heaven.] 
To  his  Wife. 

Mr  Dear  Heart, — My  heart  is  now  a  little  at  rest  to 
write  to  thee.  £  have  been  these  three  days  much  disturb- 
ed, and  set  out  of  frame.  Strong  solicitations  I  have  had 
from  several  hands,  to  accept  very  honourable  preferment 
in  several  kinds  ;  some  friends  making  a  journey  on  pur- 
pose to  propound  it.  But  I  have  not  found  the  invitations 
(though  I  contess  very  honourable,  and  such  as  are  or  will 
be  suddenly  embraced  by  men  of  tar  greater  worth  and  emi- 
nency)  to  suit  with  the  inclinations  of  my  own  heart,  as  I 
was  confident  they  would  not  with  thine.  I  have  sent  away 
my  friends  satisfied  with  the  reajions  of  my  refusal,  and  am 
now  ready  with  joy  to  say  with  David,  Soul,  return  unto 
thy  rest  ! 

But  alas,  that  such  things  should  disturb  me  !  I  would 
live  above  this  lower  region,  that  no  passages  or  providence 
whatsoever  might  put  me  out  of  frame,  nor  disquiet  my 
soul,  and  unsettle  me  from  my  desired  rest.  I  would  have 
my  heart  fixed  upon  God,  so  as  no  occurrences  might  dis- 


248  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.    XXXV.) 

turb  my  tranquillity,  but  I  might  be  still  in  the  same  quiet 
and  even  frame.  Well,  though  I  am  apt  to  be  unsettled, 
and  quickly  set  off  the  hinges  ;  yet  methinks  I  am  like  a 
bird  out  of  the  nest, — I  am  never  quiet  till  I  am  in  my  old 
way  of  communion  with  God,  like  the  needle  in  the  com- 
pass, that  is  restless  till  it  be  turned  towards  the  pole.  I 
can  say  through  grace,  with  the  church,  "  With  my  soul  I 
have  desired  thee  in  the  night,  and  with  my  spirit  within 
me  have  I  sought  thee  early."  My  heart  is  early  and  late 
with  God,  and  it  is  the  business  and  delight  of  my  life 
to  seek  him.  But  alas,  how  long  shall  I  be  seeking  1  How 
long  shall  I  spend  my  days  in  wishing  and  desiring,  when 
my  glorified  brethren  spend  theirs  in  rejoicing  and  enjoy- 
ing i  Look,  as  the  poor  imprisoned  captive  sighs  under  the 
burdensome  clog  of  his  irons,  and  can  only  peer  through 
the  grate,  and  think  of  and  long  for  the  sweetness  of  that 
liberty  which  he  sees  others  enjoy  ;  such  methinks  is  my 
condition  :  I  can  only  look  through  the  grate  of  this  prison, 
my  flesh  ;  I  see  Abraham,  and  Isaac,  and  Jacob,  sitting 
down  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  but  alas,  I  myself  must  stand 
without,  longing,  striving,  fighting,  running,  praying,  wait- 
ing, for  what  they  are  enjoying. 

Oh  happy,  thrice  happy  souls  !  When  shall  these  fetters 
of  mine  be  knocked  off?  When  shall  I  be  set  at  liberty 
from  this  prison  of  my  body  ?  You  are  clothed  with  glory, 
when  I  am  clothed  with  dust.  I  dwell  in  flesh,  in  a  house 
of  clay,  when  you  dwell  with  God  in  a  house  not  made  with 
hands,  eternal  in  the  heavens.  I  must  be  continually  clog- 
ged with  the  cumbersome  burden  of  this  dunghill  body,  that 
had  it  not  a  soul  dwelling  in  it,  like  salt  as  it  were  to  pre- 
serve it,  it  would  soon  turn  to  putrefaction  and  corruption, 
and  be  as  odious  and  loathsome  as  the  filthiest  carrion, 
when  you  have  put  on  incorruption  and  immortality.  What 
continual  molestation  am  I  subject  to  by  reason  of  this 
flesh  !  What  pains  doth  it  cost  me  to  keep  this  earthen 
vessel  from  breaking  !  It  must  be  fed,  it  must  be  clothed, 
it  must  be  exercised,  recreated,  and,  which  is  worst  of  all, 
cherished  with  time-devouring  sleep  ;  so  that  I  live  but  little 
of  the  short  time  I  have  allotted  me  here.  But,  oh,  blessed 
souls,  you  are  swallowed  up  of  immortality  and  life;  your 
race  is  run,  and  you  have  received  your  crown.  How  cau- 
tious must  I  be  to  keep  me  from  dangers!  How  apt  am  I 
to  be  troubled  with  the  cares  and  fears  of  this  life,  molesting 


THK    REV.    JOSEPH     ALLEINE.  249 

myself  with  the  thoughts  of  what  I  shall  eat,  and  what  I  shall 
piit  oil,  and  wherewithal  I  shall  provide  for  myself  and  mine  ; 
when  your  souls  are  taken  with  nothing  but  God  and  Christ, 
and  it  is  your  work  to  be  still  contemplating  and  admiring 
that  love  that  redeemed  you  from  all  this.  Alas,  how  am  I 
encompassed  with  infirmities,  and  still  carry  about  me  death 
in  my  bosom  !  What  pains  and  cost  must  I  be  at  to  repair 
the  rotten  and  ruinous  building  of  this  earthly  tabernacle, 
which,  when  I  have  done,  I  am  sure  will  shortly  fall  about 
my  ears  ;  when  you  are  got  far  above  mortality,  and  are 
made  ecpial  with  the  angels. 

Oh  !  I  groan  earnestly  to  be  clothed  upon  with  my  house 
which  is  from  heaven,  being  willing  rather  to  be  absent  from 
the  body,  and  present  with  the  Lord.  Oh,  when  shall  I 
come  and  appear  before  Him  ?  When  shall  I  receive  the 
purchase  of  my  Saviour,  the  fruit  of  my  prayers,  the  har- 
vest of  my  labours,  the  end  of  my  failh,  the  salvation  of  my 
soul  ?  Alas  !  what  do  I  here  '?  This  is  not  my  resting  place. 
My  treasure  is  in  heaven,  and  my  heart  is  in  heaven.  Oh! 
when  shall  I  be  where  my  heart  is  ?  Wo  is  me  that  I  sojourn 
in  Mesech,  and  dwell  in  the  tents  of  Kedar  !  Oh  that  1  had 
wings  like  a  dove  that  I  might  fly  away  and  be  at  rest ! 
The^^i  would  I  hasten  my  escape  from  the  windy  storm  and 
tempest,  and  be  out  of  the  reach  of  fears,  disturbances,  and 
distractions 

How  long  shall  I  live  at  such  a  distance  from  my  God, 
at  such  a  distance  from  my  country  1  Alas,  how  can  I  be 
merry,  how  can  I  sing  the  Lord's  song  in  a  strange  land  ! 
No,  I  will  hang  my  harp  upon  the  willows,  and  sit  down 
and  weep  when  I  remember  Sion.  But  yet  my  flesh  shall 
rest  in  hope,  and  I  will  daily  bathe  my  soul  in  the  sweet 
thoughts  of  my  blessed  home.  I  will  rejoice  in  hopes  of 
what  1  do  not  yet  enjoy,  and  content  myseli  with  the  taste  of 
what  I  shall  shortly  have  my  fill  of.  But  stay,  this  pen  ; 
run  not  beyond  thy  commission.  Alas,  now  I  receive  what 
I  have  gotten,  I  perceive  I  have  set  down  what  I  would  be, 
rather  than  what  I  am  :  and  wrote  more  of  my  dear's  heart, 
than  my  own  penning  ;  rather  a  copy  for  myself,  than  a  copy 
of  myself.  Well,  I  thank  God  I  have  got  some  heat  by  it 
for  all;  the  Lord  grant  thou  mayest  get  a  thousand  Ume3 
more.  The  Lord  grant  the  recpiest  I  daily  pour  out  before 
him,  and  make  us  helps  and  furtherances  to  each  other's 
soul,  that   we  may   quicken  and  promote   and  forward  one 

22 


250  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXXVI.) 

another  in  his  ways.  Help  me  by  thy  prayers  as  thou  dost 
always.  The  God  of  all  peace  and  comtort  be  with  ihee, 
my  sweet  love,  Farewell. 

Thine  beyond  expression, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


LETTER  XXXVI. 

[God  is  a  Satisfying  Portion.] 

My  Most  DearPylades, — H^d  not  my  right  hand  long 
since  forgotteu  her  cunning,  and  the  Almighty  shaken  the 
pen  out  of  my  hand,  I  should  long  ere  this  have  been  writing 
to  thee.  But  it  is  a  wonder  of  divine  power  and  goodness 
that  my  soul  had  not  before  this  time  dsvt^lt  in  silence,  and 
that  death  had  not  put  the  long  period  to  all  my  writing  and 
converse. 

O  my  Pylades,  what  shall  I  say  unto  thee  ?  Now  I  be- 
gin to  write,  where  shall  I  begin,  when  shall  I  end  ?  Me- 
thinks  I  am  as  a  full  bottle  quite  inverted,  where  the  forward 
pressing  of  the  over-hasty  liquor  makes  the  evacuation  more 
slow,  and  my  thoughts  are  like  a  thronging  crowd  sticking 
in  the  door. 

Long  is  the  song  of  love  that  I  have  to  tell  thee  ;  I  rejoice 
in  the  constaiicy  of  thy  love,  that  the  waters  of  so  long  a 
silence,  and  so  great  a  distance,  have  not  yet  quenched  it, 
but  thy  desires  are  towards  me,  and  thy  heart  is  with  me, 
though  Providence  hath  hindered  me  from  my  much-desired 
comp  uiy.  I  will  assure  thee,  it  hath  been  a  pleasure  to  my 
heart  a  good  pait  of  this  summer  to  hope  that  I  should  come 
one-half  of  the  way  to  give  thee  a  meeting  ;  but  such  is  my 
weakness  hitherto,  that  I  am  forced  to  put  off  those  hopes 
till  the  spring,  when,  if  God  give  me  strength  to  ride,  I  in- 
tend to  see  thee  before  my  own  home.  I  thank  thee  lor  all 
the  dear  expressions  of  thy  fervent  love.  Methinks  I  see  it, 
and  feel  how  it  runs  through  all  the  veins  of  every  letter, 
nay,  every  line.  I  needed  not  so  chargeable  a  testimony  as 
thy  golden  token,  with  which  I  was  something  displeased, 
because  1  thoui;ht  thou  needest  more  than  myself:  But  the 
love  thereby  expressed  is  most  dearly  welcome  to  me.  \^  hat 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLKINE.  251 

thou  talkest  of  retribution  and  oi^  justice,  doth  not  so  well  re- 
lish with  me,  because  the  phrases  seem  improper  to  the  love 
protessed  between  us.  1  never  looked  for  any  return  trom 
thee  but  love,  which  is  the  paying  of  all  thy  debts. 

My  expenses  have  indeed  been  vast,  and  almost  incredi- 
ble ;  but  surely  goodness  and  mercy  have  followed  me,  and 
do  follow  me  in  every  place,  and  in  every  chansje  of  my  con- 
dition :  So  that  as  to  temporals,  I  have  lack  of  nothing  ; 
and  as  for  spirituals,  I  abound  and  superabound,  and  the 
streams  of  my  comforts  have  been  full  and  running  over. 
The  joy  of  the  Lord  hath  been  my  strength  at  the  weakest ; 
and  in  the  multitude  of  my  thoughts  within  me,  his  comforts 
have  ret'reshed  my  soul.  I  have  tbund  God  a  satisfying  por- 
tion to  me,  and  have  sat  down  under  his  shadow  with  full  de- 
lights, and  his  fruit  is  most  sweet  to  my  taste.  He  is  my 
strength  and  my  song,  for  I  will  talk  of  him  and  write  of 
him  with  perpetual  pleasure.  Through  grace  I  can  say,  Me- 
thinks  I  am  now  in  my  element,  since  I  have  begun  to  make 
mention  of  him,  I  am  rich  in  him,  and  happy  in  him,  and  my 
soul  saith  unto  him  with  David,  Thou  hast  made  me  most 
blessed  for  evermore,  and  happy  is  the  hour  that  ever  I  was 
born  to  be  made  partaker  of  so  blissful  a  treasure,  so  end- 
less a  felicity,  so  angelical  prerogatives  as  I  have  in  him. 
0  !  sweet  are  his  converses  ;  how  delightful  it  is  to  triumph 
in  his  love  ! 

Suffer  me  to  be  free  with  thee :  Where  should  I  pour  out 
my  soul,  if  not  into  thy  bosom?  Did  the  poor  woman  call 
upon  her  friends  and  neighbors  to  rejoice  together  with  her 
at  the  finding  of  a  lost  groat?  And  shall  not  I  tell  to  thee, 
the  keeper  of  the  secrets  of  my  soul,  and  the  friend  of  my 
inmost  bosom,  what  a  friend  is  the  Lord  to  me,  though  an 
unworthy  sinner?  Shall  not  I  run  and  tell  thee  what  a  trea- 
sure I  have  found  .'  And  here  methinks  the  story  of  the 
lepers  comes  not  unaptly  to  my  min<l,  who  said  one  to  an- 
other when  they  had  eaten  and  drunk,  and  carried  away, 
silver  and  gold,  and  raiment,  and  went  and  hid  it.  We  do 
not  well — this  day  is  a  day  of  good  tidings,  and  ire  hold  our 
peace.  It  is  fit  that  I  should  be  clothed  with  shame  ;  I  ac- 
knowledge before  God,  who  trieth  the  hearts,  I  am  unworthy, 
everlastingly  unworthy  :  But  it  is  not  fit  that  He  should 
lose  his  praise,  nay  rather,  let  Him  be  the  more  adored,  and 
magnified,  and  admired  for  ever  and  ever,  and  let  my  secrets 
say,  "  Amen." 


252  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXXVI.) 

Bless  the  Lord,  0  my  soul,  bless  the  Lord.  0  my  friend, 
let  us  exhalt  his  name  together.  He  is  my  solace  in  my  so- 
litude, he  is  my  standing  comforter,  my  tried  friend,  my  sure 
refuge,  my  safe  retreat;  he  is  my  paradi.se,  he  is  my  heaven  ; 
and  my  heart  is  at  rest  in  him.  And  I  will  sit  and  sing  un- 
der his  shadow,  as  a  bird  among  the  branches  ;  and  whe- 
ther should  I  go  but  uato  him  ?  Shall  1  leave  the  i'atness 
of  the  olive,  and  sweetness  of  the  fig-tree,  and  of  the  vine, 
and  go  and  put  my  trust  under  the  shadow  of  the  bramble? 
No,  I  have  made  my  everlasting  choice:  This  is  my  rest  for 
ever,  he  is  my  well  beloved  in  whom  I  am  well- pleased. 

Suffer  me  to  boast  a  little  here.  I  may  glory  without  va- 
nity, and  I  can  praise  him  without  end  or  measure.  But  I 
have  nothing  to  say  of  myself.  I  find  thou  dost  overvalue 
me,  and  magnify  me  above  my  measure.  Set  the  crown 
upon  the  head  of  Christ ;  let  nothing  be  great  with  thee  but 
Him  ;  give  Him  the  glory.  But  thy  love  pleaseth  me  ;  on- 
ly I  have  this  exception,  that  thou  art  in  love  with  thine  own 
idol,  as  Austin  somewhere  speaks  to  a  triend  olhis  that  did 
too  much  magnify  him,  and  inagniiest  a  creature  of  thine 
own  fan  cy,  and  not  thy  poor  Orestes.  God  that  knoweth  all 
things,  knoweth  my  poverty,  how  little,  how  low,  and  how 
mean  I  am,  and  how  short  I  come  of  the  attainments  of  the 
saints,  who  yet  do  themselves  come  so  exceedingly  short  of  the 
rule  that  God  hath  set  beibre  us.  I  often  think  of  the  com- 
plaint of  the  devout  JMonsieur  ;*  "I  feel  myself  very  poor 
this  week,  and  very  defective  in  the  love  of  God  ;  if  you 
would  know  wherein  you  may  pleasure  me,  love  God  more  ; 
that  what  is  wanting  in  me,  may  be  made  up  in  the  abund- 
ance of  your  love."  Li  this,  my  Pylades,  in  this  thou  mayest 
most  highly  pleasure  me  ;  love  God  a  little  the  better,  praise 
him  a  little  the  more  for  my  sake;  let  me  have  thisto  please 
myself  in,  that  (^od  is  a  little  the  better  loved  for  me,  and 
that  I  have  blowed  up,  if  it  be  but  one  flash,  nay,  but  one  spark 
of  divine  love  in  the  bosom  of  my  dearest  friend  towards 
Him. 

But  why,  Pylades,  why  is  thy  style  towards  me  chang- 
ed ?  Why  hast  thou  lost  the  old  and  wonted  strain  of  our 
former  pleasing  familiarity?  This  I  could  not  but  observe 
with  some  disgust.  Js  it  because  thy  heart  is  changed? 
But  this  is  a  question  in  which  I  cannot  ask  any  resolution. 

*  M.  cle  Renty. 


THE    REV.    J0SF:PH    ALLEINE.  253 

I  am  satistfied  and  at  rest  in  thy  love.  But  what  this  ahera- 
tioii  means,  I  know  not.  Art  thou  willing  by  degrees  to 
grow  strange?  It  cannot  be;  thou  seest,  however,  that  I 
cannot  change  my  voice. 

Besides,  I  find  some  jealous  passages  in  thy  last  lines  un- 
to us  ;  but  canst  thou  think  that  T.  B.  can  be  put  into  the 
balance  against  my  old  friend,  my  own,  my  covenant  Py- 
lades  ?  Or  can  a  friend  of  ivords  come  unto  any  competi- 
tion or  comparison  with  thine  experienced  love  ?  I  cannot 
entertain  the  thoughts  of  this  without  disdain. 

But  thy  needful  cautions  are  acceptable  to  me.  I  desire 
to  forsee  and  to  provide  for  manifold  changes  and  storms  ; 
I  know  I  am  not  yet  in  the  harbour  ;  O  pray  with  me  that  I 
enter  not  into  temptation,  for  I  am  very  weak  in  spirit, 
as  well  as  in  body,  God  knoweth.  But  there  is  no  end 
with  me,  somewhere  or  other  i  must  break  off,  and  thou  wilt 
say,  "  It  is  time  to  shut  up."  For  once  only  know,  that  I 
am  thy  daily  orator,  and  will  be  whilst  I  am.  And  yet  once 
more,  I  must  have  room  to  add  my  thankful  acknowledgenieut 
of  thine,  and  thy  costly  kindness  ;  and  so,  with  our  most 
dear  affections  to  you  both,  I  commend  you  to  the  God  of 
love,  still  abiding. 

Thy  fast  and  sure, 

Orestes, 

Bath,  loth  Oct.  leoa 


LETTER  XXXVII. 

[To  a  Person  of  duality  to  be  constant.] 

Most  Honoured  Sir, — Many  changes  have  passed  over 
both  you  and  myself,  since  my  last  writing  to  you  :  but  I 
am  glad  to  hear,  that  in  that  great  change  of  your  condition, 
you  have  made  so  wise  and  happy  a  choice.  Mine  unfeign- 
ed desire  to  God  is  for  your  temporal  and  spiritual  prosperi- 
ty ;  and  that  the  blessings  of  both  worlds  may  be  heaped  up 
upon  you.  Yet  I  should  desire  you  not  to  expect  too  much 
here  ;  nor  to  count  it  a  strange  thing,  if  you  meet  witb  dis- 
appointments. It  is  enouHh  if  you  have  the  Lord  ibr  your 
portion,  and  heaven  for  your  inheritance,  though  the  world 
should  not  answer  your  expectations.     1  doubt  not  but  you 

22* 


254  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XXXVII.) 

will  be  likely,  as  well  as  we,  to  meet  with  manifold  tempta- 
tions. The  Lord  make  you,  when  you  have  done  all,  to 
stand.  Hold  but  a  while  in  faith,  patience,  and  self-denial, 
and  you  shall  be  as  sure  as  God  can  make  you  of  the  crown. 

Now  arise  and  shine,  and  hold  forth  the  power  of  holiness 
in  all  your  converse.  We  have  lived  in  times  when  religion 
was  the  way  to  credit  and  esteem,  and  then  it  was  more  dif- 
ficult to  discern  the  cincerity  of  one's  profession,  because 
men  might  be  drawn  to  it  upon  worldly  ends.  But  now  is 
the  time  when  God  will  prove  us,  if  we  will  appear  for  him, 
and  own  his  ways,  when  they  are  the  common  scorn  of  the 
world.  Oh,  Sir,  think  it  not  hard  if  God  do  call  you  forth 
to  own  him  in  such  a  time  as  this,  when  few  of  your  rank 
and  quality  will  bear  you  company.  But  look  upon  it  as  a 
special  advantage  to  prove  your  sincerity,  and  your  fidelity 
to  the  Lord  your  Maker. 

The  holy  and  blessed  life  of  that  noble  Marquis  Galeacius, 
1  should  much  commend  to  your  reading  and  imitation. 
Court  not  the  world  nor  its  preferments.  Moses,  his  self- 
denying  choice,  which  the  world  would  have  branded  for  un- 
paralleled folly,  when  he  voluntarily  left  all  the  court- prefer- 
ments and  pleasures,  the  wisest  Judge  commends  for  the 
greatest  wisdom.  If  religion  will  make  you  vile,  resolve 
with  that  royal  worthy,  that  you  will  yet  be  more  vile.  Re- 
member who  accounted  the  reproaches  of  Christ  greater 
riches  than  the  treasures  of  Egypt.  Yerily,  it  is  a  greater 
honour  to  you  to  be  vilified  for  Christ,  than  to  be  dignified 
with  the  highest  titles  that  the  greatest  on  earth  can  confer. 
And  to  be  called  Puritan,  or  Fanatic,  for  the  bold  and  con- 
stant owning  of  the  power  of  Christianity,  than  to  have 
whole  pages  filled  up  with  the  honourable  ofllices  and  marks 
of  dignity  that  earthly  princes  can  bestow.  Now,  then  is 
your  time  to  get  the  true  honour.  Few  of  your  places  and 
dignity  will  take  this  way  to  net  it.  But  he  that  can  but  use 
the  pro."^pective  of  faith,  and  look  as  far  as  the  approaching 
judfTrnent,  will  easily  see  the  vanity  of  the  world's  riches 
and  flattering  preferments,  and  the  everlasting  glory  and 
honour  wherewith  the  despised  saints  shall  surely  be  crown- 
ed Fix  your  eyes  and  meditations  here,  and  that  will  set 
you  above  the  world's  temptations,  ^hen  by  its  oflTers  or 
threatenings  it  would  make  you  to  warp,  and  let  go  your 
hold-fast  of  eternal  life. 

Now  is  the  time  for  you  to  make  heaven  sure  ;  and  when 


THE   REV.   JOSEPH   ALLEINE.  255 

that  is  done,  you  are  prepared  for  the  worst  that  can  come.  I 
desire  you  to  accept  oi'  my  service  and  respects,  and  my 
wife's,  which  I  do  hereby  present  unto  you,  and  to  your 
most  deserving  yoke-fellow,  whom  I  unfeignedly  honour, 
though  I  never  saw  her,  not  so  much  ior  her  noble  blood, 
which  yet  calls  for  great  respects,  as  for  her  far  more  noble 
qualifications,  and  privileges  of  her  second  birth.  Pardon 
my  boldness  with  you  in  troubling  you  so  long. 

I  am,  Sir, 

Your  most  obliged  friend  and  servant, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
2Gtkrcb.  1661. 


LETTER  XXXVIII. 

Dear  Cousin, — Though  I  have  been  in  the  valley  of  the 
shadow  of  death,  though  I  have  had  more  than  one  foot  in 
the  grave,  and  have  been  in  deaths  often,  yet  the  love  and 
remembrance  of  you  ever  liveth  on  my  heart.  I  have  long 
had  neither  feet  to  walk,  nor  hands  to  write,  yet  I  have  bor- 
rowed  hands,  as  you  see,  rather  than  I  would  stay  any 
longer  from  warning  and  admonishing  of  you.  Dear  cousin, 
that  soul  of  yours,  that  precious  immortal  soul,  is  of  no  light 
value  with  me !  I  pray  hard  for  its  salvation.  I  have  a 
godly  fear  for  you,  lest  your  soul  should  miscarry  in  a 
crowd  of  worldly  business,  and  of  earthly  cares.  Ah,  my 
dear  niece,  it  comforts  me  that  you  are  so  settled  for  this 
world  and  are  in  want  of  nothing.  I  bless  the  Lord  for 
this,  but  methinks  this  doth  not  satisfy  me.  Oh,  that  I 
could  be  sure  that  you  were  once  safe  settled  in  Christ? 
Though  you  are,  I  trust,  comfortably  furnished  with  earthly 
things,  yet  in  this  you  are  but  half  provided  for.  Have  you 
a  treasiure  in  heaven  ?  .Have  you  laid  hold  on  eternal  life  ? 
Have  you  made  sure  work  for  everlasting?  Have  you  past 
the  straits  of  the  new-birth  ?  Do  you  bear  upon  you  the 
marks  of  the  Lord  Jesus? 

If  you  shall  pass  by  a  sumptuous  fabric,  and  a  great  lord- 
ship, and  should  lay  claim  to  all  as  your  inheritance,  and 
please  yourself  with  the  hopes  of  enjoying  all  this,  when 
you  had  nothing  to   shew,  no  writing,  no  evidence  to  pro- 


256  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XXXVllI.) 

duce,  as  a  jijrouiid  for  any  such  hope,  would  not  every  one 
say,  this  were  a  piece  of  strange  vaiiity  and  imprudence? 
Much  greater  folly  is  it  to  promise  ourselves  a  part  in  para- 
dise, and  rest  satisfied  in  a  mere  persuasion  that  we  are  the 
heirs  of  heaven,  when  we  cannot  prove  our  title  from  the 
book  of  (lod,  nor  produce,  from  within  ourselves,  the  sure 
and  certain  marks  of  the  children  of  God. 

Ah,  dear  cousin,  rouse  up  yourself,  make  conscience  to 
deal  plainly,  and  freely  with  your  soul.  Say  within  your- 
self, "  I  have  hopes  for  heaven  ;  but  where  are  my  grounds 
and  mv  evidences  1  Do  I  not  build  without  a  foundation  ? 
Do  I  venture  my  salvation  upon  mere  uncertainties  ?  What 
have  I,  what  do  I  more  than  others?  I  i)ray,  I  hear,  I  read  ; 
but  may  not  a  mere  hypocrite  do  all  this  ?  I  run  not  with 
others  into  the  wretched  practice  of  lying,  and  cozening, 
whoredom,  and  the  like  ;  but  what  is  this  more  than  a  pha- 
risee  may  have  to  say  for  himself?  Can  I  prove  by  scrip- 
ture my  claim  to  heaven  ?  Can  1  produce  chapter  and  verse 
to  justify  myself?'* 

Oh  cousin,  fear,  lest  a  promise  being  left  of  entering  into 
rest,  you  should,  by  any  mistakes  or  self-deceits,  fall  short 
through  unbelief;  fear  lest  you  should  take  counters  for  gold, 
or  some  common  workings  for  saving  grace.  Oh,  there  is 
a  world  of  cviuiiterfeit  coin  going  !  Multitudes  perish  by 
mistake,  and  wake  in  hell,  whilst  they  dreamt  they  were  in 
heaven.  The  tempter  is  very  subtle,  and  will  surely  deceive  if 
he  can.  Your  heart  is  deceitful  above  all  things,  and  is  willing 
to  cheat  you,  if  it  can.  Therefore  am  I  engaged  so  earnestly 
to  call  upon  you,  as  one  that  watcheth  for  your  soul,  to  arise 
speedily,  and  to  set  roundly  to  your  work.  Oh,  consider  your 
danger,  and  work  out  your  salvation  with  fear  and  trembling  ! 
Away  with  these  lazy  prayers,  away  with  these  cold  and 
heartless  professions,  away  with  this  drowsy,  lifeltiss,  list- 
less, religion  !  Bestir  yourself  to  purpose  for  your  soul, 
before  it  be  too  late.  Search  your  conscience,  as  with  can- 
dles ;  be  jealous  of  yourself.  Consider,  now  is  your  time  ; 
what  you  do,  you  must  do  quickly.  The  patience  of  God 
is  waiting,  Christ  is  knocking,  the  Spirit  of  God  is  striving, 
and  death  is  at  the  door.  Oh,  now  take  your  opportunity, 
and  take  heed  lest  a  slothful  heart,  and  the  cares  of  this 
world,  or  a  presumptuous  confidence  that  all  is  well  and 
safe  already,  should  at  last  shut  you  out  of  the  kingdom  of  God, 

1  cannot  write  distinctly  to  your  husband,  but  I  beseech 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  257 

you  to  call  upon  him  to  set  his  heart  to  these  counsels  which 
I  have  written  to  you;  I  earnestly  entreat  hinj  to  niake  re- 
ligion his  business,  and  to  look  heedfuUy  to  it,  that  the  gain 
of  the  world  prove  not  the  loss  of  his  soul  I  desire  him 
that  closet  and  family  prayers,  and  weekly  c.'itcchisinjr  of  his 
household,  and  strict  sanctifying  of  the  Sab-baih,  and  reading 
of  the  scriptures,  singing  of  psalms,  repeating  of  sermons, 
and  diligent  attendance  upon  powertui  preaching,  may  be  his 
continual  exercises  ;  that  so  his  house  may  be  a  little  church, 
and  God  may  delight  to  dwell  in  his  family.  Pray  give  me 
to  understand  what  is  done  of  these  things,  fori  have  a  zeal 
for  your  welfare,  and  that  you  and  your  household  should 
serve  the  Lord,  that  you  may  enter  into  his  rest,  and  carry 
childreu,  and  servants,  and  friends,  and  all,  to  heaven  with 
you. 

As  to  my  own  estate,  I  have  lost  all  my  limbs  ;  and  have 
been  about  twelve  months  uselesii.  and  again  and  again  un- 
der the  sentence  of  death  ;  but  was  brought  in  a  horse-lit- 
ter to  Bath,  where  God  hath  wonderiuliy  restored  me,  so 
that  I  can  feed  myself,  and  go  alone,  and  speak  with  a  little 
more  freeedom.  Oh,  love  the  Lord,  praise  the  Lord  for  nie  ; 
notwithstanding  I  continue  weak,  and  have  not  strengih  to 
write,  yet  I  could  not  tell  how  to  die  in  silence  from  you  ; 
but  have  made  use  of-^a  tViendly  hand  to  send  these  couDsels 
and  calls  after  you,  which  I  beseech  you  to  accept  in  the 
fear  of  God  ;  for  it  is  not  unlike  that  they  may  be  my  last 
to  you  that  ever  you  may  receive.  I  now  commend  you  to 
the  Lord ;  and,  with  mine  own  and  my  dear  wife's  love  to 
you  both,  rest, 

Your  loving  and  careful  uncle, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
2lst  Oct.  1668. 


LETTER  XXXIX. 

[The  Concernments  of  our  Souls  are  especially  to  be  regarded.] 

Dear  Cousin, — You  may  think  you  are  forgotten  with 
me,  ber-ause  you  have  not  heard  so  long  a  time  from  me  ; 
but  this  may  let  you  know,  that  though  God  hath  taken 
away  your  father,  and   suffered   your   mother  to  be  helpless 


258  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.  XXXIX.) 

to  you  ;  yet  you  have  one  friend  on  earth  that  careth  for 
yoiu  The  welfare  of  your  immortal  soul  is  dear  to  me,  and 
is  the  matter  of  my  solicitous  care  and  prayer. 

Dear  cousin,  metliinks  I  feel  a  godly  jealousy  of  you 
within  my  heart,  lest  you  should  lose  your  soul  amongst  a 
crowd  of  worldly  cares  and  business.  O  remember  the 
story  of  him  in  the  book  of  the  Kings,  who  relates  that  he 
had  a  soldier  committed  to  his  keeping,  upon  condition  that 
he  should  lose  his  life  if  he  did  let  him  go  But  while  thy 
servant  laent  hither  and  thither,  the  man  escaped.  But  the 
king  replies  presently.  Even  so  shall  thy  judgment  be;  thy 
life  shall  go  for  his  life.  Ah  cousin,  take  earnest  heed, 
lest  while  you  are  going  hither  and  thither,  minding  many 
things,  tossed  in  a  hurry  of  worldly  affairs,  the  enemy  run 
not  away  with  your  soul. 

Oh  beware  that  the  %Aorld  doth  not  secretly  steal  away 
your  heart !  Consider  that  whatever  your  business  be,  you 
mu.^t  and  will  have  an  eating  time,  and  a  sleeping  time. 
Oh  be  as  solicitous  every  day  to  keep  your  praying  times, 
which  are  a  thousand  times  more  necessary  than  a  time  to 
eat  in  or  sleep.  Be  sure  that  there  doth  not  a  morning  or 
evening  pass  over  your  head,  in  which  you  have  not  per- 
fumed your  closet  with  solemn  and  fervent  prayer.  And 
take  heed,  if  you  love  your  salvation,  lest  Satan  beguile  you 
Avith  the  bare  outward  performance  of  duties,  and  outward 
acts  of  religion.  See  to  it,  that  you  do  not  rest  in  a  worldly 
relio-ion  ;  to  g;ve  God  your  knees  while  the  world  carries 
away  your  heart.  You  may  pray,  hear,  and  read,  and  all 
to  no  purpose,  except  your  very  soul  be  employed  and  en- 
gaged in  those  duties  ;  and  the  life,  vigour,  and  strength  of 
your  affections  be  found  to  go  after  God  in  them.  If  there- 
fore you  will  have  Christ  and  heaven,  see  that  you  renounce 
the  world.  You  must  cast  overboard  your  worldly  hopes, 
and  take  up  with  God,  with  a  naked  Christ,  as  your  whole 
happiness,  both  for  this  life  and  that  which  is  to  come. 

There  is  no  hopes  of  your  salvation,  without  a  sound 
mortification  to  the  world  ;  you  must  be  mortified  to  your 
worldly  expectations.  Look  not  for  much  from  the  world  ; 
promise  not  yourself  much  from  the  world  ;  seek  not  great 
things  for  yourself:  Say  unto  God,  "  So  I  may  have  thee 
for  my  portion,  and  thy  kingdom  for  my  inheritance,  give 
or  deny  me  what  thou  wilt,  poverty  or  riches,  anything  or 
nothing,  I   will  be  content  with  my  lot,"     Say  unto  your 


THE    REV.  JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  259 

soul,  "  So  I  may  but  have  Christ,  so  I  may  but  carry  it  for 
the  other  world,  let  this  world  go  which  way  it  will ;  I  must 
be  converted  or  condemned  ;  I  must  be  born  again,  or  else 
woula  I  had  never  been  born  !  But  of  this  present  world 
there  is  no  such  necessity  ;  I  may  be  poor  and  yet  happy  ; 
But  wo  to  me  if  I  remain  unsanctified  !  I  must  have  grace 
or  perisn  for  ever."  Dear  cousin,  if  I  live,  you  shall  find 
me  a  friend  to  your  worldly  prosperity  ;  but  whether  1  live 
or  die,  I  charge  you  by  the  Lord  that  you  be  intinitely  ten- 
der of  your  immortal  soul's  everlasting  concernments.  Will 
you  not  spin  a  fair  thread  of  it,  if  while  you  are  pursuing 
after  earthly  things  you  lose  your  soul  in  the  throng  1  While 
I  live,  1  shall  pray  and  care  for  you.     Farewell  in  the  Lord* 

I  am 

Your  truly  loving  and  careful  uncle, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


LETTER  XL. 

[Godly  Counsels.] 

Dear  Cousin, — The  welcome  tidings  of  your  safe  arrival 
at  Barbadoes,  is  come  to  my  ears  ;  as  also  the  news  of  your 
escape  from  a  perilous  sickness,  for  which  I  bless  the  Lord, 
and  desire  to  be  thankful  with  you.  For  I  am  not  without 
a  care  for  your  well-beinor ;  but  do  look  upon  myself  as  real- 
ly concerned  in  you.  I  have  considered  that  God  hath  be- 
reft  you  of  a  careful  father,  and  that  your  mother  takes  but 
little  care  of  you  ;  so  that  you  have  none  nearer  than  my- 
self to  watch  for  your  soul,  and  to  charge  and  admonish  you 
in  the  Lord,  and  to  take  care  of  you. 

But  vet  dear  cousin,  be  not  discouraged  by  these  things, 
but  look  to  heaven,  fly  unto  Jesus,  put  away  every  known 
sin,  set  upon  the  conscientious  performance  of  every  known 
duty  ;  make  Christ  your  choice,  embrace  him  upon  his  own 
terms;  deliver  up  yourself,  body  and  soul,  to  him.  See 
that  you  have  no  reserves,  no  limitations  in  your  choice 
of  him  ;  give  him  your  very  heart ;  cast  away  your  worldly 
hopes  and  expectations;  make  religion  your  very  business. 
O  cousin,  these  things  do,  and  you  shall  be  sure  of  a  friend 


260  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XL.) 

in  heaven  to  take  the  care  of  you  ;  and,  if  I  may  be  any 
comfort  to  you,  you  shall  not  laiJ,  while  1  live,  to  have  one 
friend  on  earth  to  care  for  you.  You  are  gone  far  from  me, 
even  to  the  uttermost  parts  of  the  earth  ;  but  1  have  sent  these 
letters  to  call  even  thither  after  you  ;  yea,  not  only  to  call, 
but  to  cry  in  your  ears,  '' O  what  is  like  to  become  of  your 
soul  ?  Where  is  that  immortal  soul  of  yours  like  to  be  lodg- 
ed for  ever?  Amoni^st  devils,  or  amongst  angels?  Upon  a 
bed  of  flames,  or  in  the  joys  of  paradise  f" 

Dear  cousin,  go  aside  by  yourself  in  secret,  retire  from  the 
noise  of  the  world,  and  say  to  yourself,  "  Oh  my  soul  I  Whi- 
ther art  thou  going  i  Do  not  I  know  in  my  very  heart  that 
I  must  be  converted  or  condemned  ;  that  1  must  be  sanctifi- 
ed or  ran  never  be  saved  i  Oh,  my  soul,  what  seekestthou? 
What  designs  do  I  drive  at  ?  What  is  my  chief  care  ?  Which 
way  do  1  bend  my  course  ?  Is  it  for  this  world,  or  for  the 
world  to  come  ?  Do  I  first  seek  the  kingdom  of  heaven,  and 
the  righteousness  thereof?  Do  I  think  heaven  will  drop  into 
my  mouth  ;  that  glory  and  immortality  will  be  gotten  with  a 
wet  finger,  with  cold  prayers,  and  heartless  wishes,  while  the 
world  carries  the  main  of  my  heart  ?  Do  I  think  to  be  crown- 
ed, and  yet  never  fight?  To  get  the  race,  and  never  run? 
To  enter  at  the  strait  gate,  and  never  strive?  To  overcome 
principalities  and  powers,  and  never  wrestle  ?"  No,  no;  say 
within  yourself,  "  Oh  my  soul,  either  lay  by  the  hopes  of 
heaven  for  ever,  or  else  rouse  up  thyself,  put  forth  thy 
streni^th  in  seeking  after  God  and  glory  ;  either  lay  by  thy 
worldly  hopes,  or  thy  hopes  of  immortality  ;  away  with  thy 
sins,  or  thou  must  let  Christ  go  for  ever  ;  think  not  to  have 
Christ  and  the  world  too,  to  serve  God  and  mammon; — it 
cannot  be.  If  thou  follow  the  world  as  thy  chief  desire  and 
delight,  if  thou  live  after  the  flesh  thou  must  die  ;  count  upon 
it,  the  Lord  hath  spoken  it  ;  and  all  the  world  can  never  re- 
verse it."  Thus  reason  the  case  with  your  own  soul,  and 
give  not  rest  to  yourself  night  nor  day,  till  you  have  got- 
ten off"  from  the  world,  broken  off"  from  the  wilful  practice  of 
every  know.i  sin,  and  gotten  safe  into  (.'hrist 

Dear  cousin,  I  charge  you  by  the  Lord,  to  observe  these 
thintJ-s  ;  pray  over  them,  weep  over  them,  read  them  again 
and  again  ;  do  not  pass  them  over  as  slight  and  ordinary 
things  :  Your  soul  is  at  stake,  it  is  your  salvation  which  is 
concerned  in  thetn.  Think  not  I  am  in  jest  with  you.  Ah 
cousin,  I  travail  in  birth  with  you,  till  Christ  be  formed  in 


THE  REV.   JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  261 

you.  "Why  should  you  die  ?  Oh  repent  and  live,  lay  hold 
on  eternal  life  ;  win  Christ,  and  you  win  all.  O  be  thank- 
ful to  the  Lord,  that  though  now  you  are  fatherless  and 
friendless,  yet  you  have  one  remembrancer  to  warn  you  to 
fly  from  the  wrath  to  come.  God  forbid  that  I  should  find 
you  at  last  in  the  place  of  torments,  for  your  not  embracing 
these  godly  counsels  ! 

To  conclude,  in  short,  I  charge  you  as  a  minister,  as  a 
friend,  as  a  father  to  you,  take  heed  of  these  three  things  : 

1.  Lest  the  gain  of  the  world  prove  the  loss  of  your  soul. 

2.  Lest  the  snares  of  evil  company  withdraw  you  from 
God,  and  so  prove  your  final  ruin. 

3.  Lest  a  lofty  and  worldly  heart  should  thrust  you  out 
of  the  kingdom  of  heaven. 

God  abhors  that  the  proud  should  come  near  him.  Oh 
labour,  whatever  you  do,  for  a  humble  heart ;  be  little,  be 
vile  in  your  own  eyes  ;  seek  not  after  great  things  ;  be  poor 
in  spirit ;  without  this,  heaven  will  be  no  place  for  you,  God 
will  be  no  friend  to  you.  Dear  cousin,  your  lot  is  fallen,  as 
I  fear,  in  a  place  of  great  wickedness,  where  your  soul  is  in 
much  danger,  where  your  temptations  are  many,  and  your 
helps  for  heaven  but  few  ;  where  godly  examples  are  rare, 
and  many  will  entice  you  to  sin  and  vanity.  U  !  if  you  love 
me,  or  love  your  soul,  look  about  you,  consider  your  danger, 
fear  lest  you  should  miscarry  tor  ever  by  worldly  loss  and 
vain  company,  which  proves  to  so  many  the  fearful  cause  of 
their  eternal  perdition. 

I  can  but  warn  you,  and  pray  for  you :  But  though  you 
have  none  to  oversee  you.  remember  the  strict  and  severe 
eye  of  God  is  upon  y^ou,  to  observe  all  your  actions,  and  that 
he  will  surely  bring  all  your  practices  into  his  judgment. 
Your  aunt  and  myself,  commends  our  dear  love  to  you  ; 
and  I  commend  you  to  the  Lord,  and  remain, 

Your  loving  and  careful  uncle, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

VJtk  August,  1GG8. 


23 


262  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XLI.) 


LETTER  XLI. 

Dear  Cousin, — Though  you  are  removed  far  from  me 
out  of  my  sight,  and  the  seas  as  a  great  gulf  are  fixed  be- 
twixt you  and  me  ;  yet  my  prayers  follow  you,  and  my  good 
wishes  for  your  present  and  everlasting  welfare,  like  the 
wings  of  a  dove,  take  speedy  flight.  I  look  upon  myself, 
now  God  hath  removed  my  brother,  to  be  as  in  the  room  of 
a  father  to  you,  yea  and  of  a  mother  too  ;  for  I  know  you 
have  but  little  help  from  her. 

My  dear  nieces,  my  heart  is  careful  for  you;  and  there- 
fore I  cannot  cease,  while  I  am  in  being  in  this  world,  to 
warn  and  admonish  you,  as  my  children,  and  to  call  upon 
you,  in  the  name  of  the  Eternal  God,  to  awaken  yourselves 
with  all  godly  fear  and  holy  diligence,  lest  by  any  means 
you  should  come  short  of  the  glory  of  God. 

Let  me  mind  you,  dear  cousins,  of  the  dangerous  place 
you  stand  in  ;  and  look  about  you  with  trembling.  Me- 
thinks  I  see  Satan  watching  for  your  souls,  as  the  dragon 
did  for  the  seed  of  the  woman,  waiting  to  devour  it  as  soon 
as  she  should  be  delivered.  Know  you  not,  that  you  must 
wrestle  with  principalities  and  powers  1  Methinks  I  see 
temptations  surrounding  you,  and  beleaguering  you,  as  the 
enemy  about  the  walls  of  the  treacherous  party  within  you, 
I  mean  carnal  affections  and  corruptions,  complotting  how 
to  deliver  up  the  castle.  Know  you  not,  that  your  fleshly 
lusts  do  war  against  your  souls?  And  that  your  own  hearts 
are  not  true  to  you,  but  deceitful  above  all  things? 

Lord  !  what  need  have  you  to  bestir  yourselves,  and  to 
fly  unto  Jesus!  to  distrust  yourselves,  and  to  trust  only  in 
him  and  his  righteousness!  Oh  work  out  your  salvation 
with  fear  and  trembling  !  Do  you  ever  think  to  escape  these 
mighty  enemies,  to  conquer  the  power,  and  avoid  the  plots 
and  snares,  of  these  potent  adversaries,  without  most  pain- 
ful diligence.  O  cry  to  heaven  for  help  ;  watch  and  pray  ; 
fear,  lest  a  promise  being  left  of  entering  into  rest,  either  of 
you  should  come  short  of  it. 

My  dear  nieces,  you  have  many  who  do  watch  for  your 
souls,  to  devour  them  ;  but  I  doubt  too  few,  except  myself, 
do  watch  for  your  souls  to  save  them.     Therefore  1  look  upon 


TFIE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  263 

myself,  who  am  now  upon  the  matter  your  only  monitor,  to 
be  the  more  concerned  to  awaken  myself  to  your  help,  and 
to  look  after  you,  and  to  watch  for  you,  lest  by  any  means 
you  should  miscarry,  by  the  deceits  and  temptations  where- 
with you  are  encompassed.  I  would  not  have  you  over- 
careful  for  the  things  of  this  lite,  though  I  commend  your 
laudable  care  and  diligence,  that  you  may  not  be  burden- 
some to  any  man  :  but  I  commend  you  to  a  better  and  more 
necessary  care,  and  that  is  that  which  the  apostle  speaks  of 
the  virgin's  care  ;  The  nnmarripd  (saith  he)  careih  for  the 
things  of  the  Lord.  Ah,  let  this  be  your  care  ;  seek  first 
the  kinordom  of  God  and  the  righteousness  thereof,  and  then 
all  these  things  shall  be  added  ;  you  have  God's  sure  pro- 
mise for  it. 

If  the  Lord  give  me  to  live  and  prosper,  you  shall  see  and 
know,  that  I  am  not  a  friend  only  in  words  to  you  ;  but 
however  that  shall  be,  see  that  you  embrace  the  counsels  of 
Godfrom  ms.  Oh  make  sure  of  heaven  betimes,  walk  hum- 
bly  with  God,  beware  of  a  proud  heart  and  a  lofty  spirit; 
abhor  yourselves,  else  God  will  not  accept  you  ;  be  displeas. 
ed  with  yourselves,  else  God  will  not  be  pleased  with  you  ; 
condemn  yourselves,  that  God  may  acquit  you.  The  leaveu 
of  pride  will  sour  the  whole  lump,  and  mar  all  your  profes- 
sion and  religion,  and  render  your  persons,  and  prayers,  and 
all,  an  abomination  to  the  Lord,  if  it  prevail  in  you.  Oh, 
therefore,  be  not  hiuh-minded,  but  fear  ;  and  by  prayer  and 
watchfulness  restrain  and  root  up  this  wretched  corruption 
of  pride,  which  is  a  sin  so  natural  to  you,  that  you  had  need 
to  use  an  infinite  care  and  caution  to  keep  it  under. 

As  to  myself  these  may  acquaint  you,  that  I  have  been 
often  at  the  very  gates  of  death  :  I  have  lost  all  my  limbs ; 
but  prayer  hath  redeemed  me  from  my  extremities,  and  (lod 
hath  blessed  the  use  of  the  Both  to  me.  Oh  praise  the  Lord ; 
praise  him  for  my  sake,  and  give  glory  to  the  God  of  my 
life.  Love  him,  honour  and  glorify  him,  whose  favour  and 
friendship  hath  filled  my  soul  with  comforts,  and  given  a  re- 
surrection to  my  body.  I  can  now  walk  alone,  and  feed 
myself:  but  am  altogether  unable  to  write,  which  is  the  rea- 
son  why  these  come  to  you  in  another  hand. 


264  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (LET.  XLII.) 

Dear  cousins,  you  may  think  me  too  tedious  ;  but  you 
must  pardon  me,  if  I  err  in  my  love  and  zeal  for  your  wel- 
fare. And  now  I  shall  trespass  no  more ;  but  with  my  own 
and  dear  wife's  love  to  you,  I  commend  you  to  God,  and 
rest, 

Your  loving  and  careful  uncle, 

Joseph  Alleine. 


LETTER  XLII. 

[Do  all  in  reference  to  God  and  his  glory,] 

Dear  Friend, — I  have  received  yours  of  the  19th  Sep. 
tember ;  but  it  came  to  me  in  the  time  of  my  sickness,  in 
which  I  was  much  a  stranger  to  writing  ;  it  continued  upon 
me  five  months,  and  to  this  day  so  much  weakness  remains 
in  my  arms,  that  I  am  not  able  to  put  off  or  on  my  own 
clothes.  Your  letter  was  exceedingly  welcome  to  me,  not 
only  as  reviving  the  remembrance  of  our  old  friendship  ; 
but  also  as  bringing  me  news  of  some  spiritual  good  that 
you  received  by  me,  which  is  the  best  tidings  that  I  can  re- 
ceive :  For  what  do  I  live  for,  but  to  be  useful  to  souls  in 
my  generation?  I  desire  to  know  no  other  business  than 
to  please  and  honour  my  God,  and  serve  my  generation  in 
that  short  allowance  of  time  that  I  have  here,  before  I  go 
hence,  and  be  seen  no  more.  Shall  I  commend  to  you  the 
lesson  that  I  am  about  to  learn  1  But  why  should  1  doubt 
of  your  acceptance,  who  have  so  readily  embraced  me  in  all 
our  converses  ? 

The  lesson  is,  To  be  entirely  devoted  unto  the  Lord,  that 
I  may  he  able  to  say  after  the  Jlpostle,  '<  To  me  to  live  is 
Christ.^^  I  would  not  be  serving  God  only  for  a  day  in 
the  week,  or  an  hour  or  two  in  the  day  ;  but  every  day,  and 
all  the  day  :  I  am  ambitious  to  come  up  towards  that  of 
our  Lord  and  Master.  To  do  always  those  things  that  please 
God.  I  plainly  see  that  self-seeking  is  self-undoing;  and 
that  then  we  do  promote  ourselves  i)est  when  we  please 
God  most,  I  find,  that  when  1  have  done  all,  if  God  be 
not  pleased,  I  have  done  nothing  ;  and  if  I  can  but  approve 
myself  to  God,  my  work  is  done.  I  reckon  I  do  not  live 
that  time  1  do  not  live  unto  God. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  265 

I  am  fain  to  cut  off  so  many  hours  from  my  days,  and 
so  many  years  from  my  life  (so  short  as  it  is)  as  I  have 
lived  unto  myself.  I  find  no  enemy  so  dangerous  as  self; 
and  O  that  others  might  take  warning  hy  my  hurt !  0  that 
I  had  lived  wholly  unto  Uod  !  then  had  every  day  and  every 
hour  that  I  have  spent  been  found  upon  my  account  at  that 
great  day  of  our  appearing  before  God  ;  then  I  had  been 
rich  indeed,  in  treasure  laid  up  there,  whether  I  am  apace 
removing;  then  I  had  been  every  day  and  hour  adding  to 
the  heap,  and  increasing  the  reward  which  God  of  his  mere 
grace  hath  promised,  even  to  the  meanest  work  that  is  done 
to  him.      (Col.  iv.  24.) 

I  verily  perceive  I  am  an  eternal  loser  by  acting  no  more 
as  for  God  ;  for  what  is  done  to  myself  is  lost ;  but  what 
is  done  for  God,  is  done  for  ever,  and  shall  receive  an  ever- 
lasting reward.  Verily,  if  there  be  another  world  to  come, 
and  an  eternal  state  after  this  short  life,  it  is  our  only  wis- 
dom to  be  removing,  and  as  it  were  transplanting  and  trans- 
porting what  we  can  from  hence  into  that  country  to  which 
we  are  shortly  to  be  removed,  that  what  we  are  now  doing, 
we  may  be  reaping  the  fruit  for  evermore.  The  world 
think  themselves  wise ;  but  I  will  pawn  my  soul  upon  it, 
that  this  is  the  true  wisdom. 

Well,  let  us  be  wholly  swallowed  up  in  the  concerns  of 
religion,  and  know  no  other  interest  but  Jesus  Christ's.  I 
cannot  say,  I  have  already  attained  ;  but  this  is  that  my 
heart  is  set  to  learn.  That  in  all  that  I  do,  whether  sacred 
or  civil  actions,  till  I  may  he  doing  but  one  work,  and  driv- 
ing one  design,  That  God  may  be  pleased  by  me,  and  be  glo- 
rified in  me  ;  that  not  only  my  praying,  preaching,  alms, 
&c.  maybe  found  upon  my  account,  but  even  eating,  drink- 
ing, sleeping,  visits,  discourses,  because  they  are  all  done 
as  unto  God. 

Too  often  do  I  take  wrong  aim,  and  miss  my  mark  ;  but 
I  will  tell  you  what  be  the  rules  I  set  myself,  and  do  strict- 
ly impose  upon  myself  from  day  to  day, — .Vever  to  lie  down 
but  in  the  name  of  God,  not  barely  for  natural  refreshment, 
but  that  a  wearied  servant  of  Christ  may  be  recruited,  and 
fitted  to  serve  him  better  the  next  day  :  Never  to  rise  up 
but  with  this  resolution,  "  Well,  I  will  go  forth  this  day  in 
the  name  of  God,  and  will  make  religion  my  business,  and 
spend  the  day  for  eternity  :"  Never  to  enter  upon  my 
calling,  but  first  thinking,  "I  will  do  these  things  as  unto 
23* 


266  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.   XLII.) 

God,"  because  he  requireth  these  things  at  my  hands  in 
the  place  and  station  he  hath  put  me  into  :  Never  to 
sit  down  to  table,  but  resolving,  "1  will  not  eat  merely 
to  please  my  appetite,  but  to  strengthen  myself  for  my  Mas- 
ter's work  :  Never  to  make  a  visit,  but  upon  some  holy 
design,  resolving  to  leave  something  of  God  where  I  go  ; 
and  in  every  company  to  leave  some  good  savour  behind." 
This  is  that  which  I  have  been  for  some  time  a-learning, 
and  am  pressing  hard  after  ;  and  if  I  strive  not  to  walk  by 
these  rules,  let  this  paper  be  a  witness  against  me. 

I  am  not  now  in  my  former  public  capacity,  such  things 
being  required  of  me  to  say  and  subscribe,  as  I  could  by  no 
means  yield  to,  without  open  lying  and  dissembling  with  God, 
and  men.  Yet,  that  1  am  unuseful,  I  cannot  say  ;  but  ra- 
ther think,  that  possibly  I  may  be  of  more  use  than  here- 
tofore. I  thank  the  Lord,  I  have  not  known  what  it  is  to 
want  a  tongue  to  speak,  but  in  miy  sickness;  nor  a  people 
to  hear ;  but  so,  as  that  we  both  follow  the  things  that  make 
for  peace. 

I  perceive  you  are  otherwise  persuaded  in  some  things 
than  I  am :  But,  however,  I  trust  we  meet  in  our  end. 
Since  you  are  in,  may  it  be  your  whole  study  to  gain  souls, 
and  build  them  up  in  holiness,  which  is  with  too  many  the 
least  of  their  cares!  One  duty  (miserably  neglected!)  I 
shall  be  bold  to  commend  to  you,  from  my  own  experence ; 
and  that  is,  the  visiting  your  whole  flock  from  house  to 
house,  and  inquiring  into  their  spiritual  estates  particularly, 
and  dealing  plainly  and  truly  with  them  about  their  conver- 
sion to  God.  To  the  usefulness  of  this  great  work,  I  can 
set  my  Probatum  est.^' 

I  hear  you  have  two  parsonages.  O  tremble  to  think  how 
many  precious  souls  you  have  to  look  to !  And  let  it  be 
seen,  however  others  aim  at  the  fleece,  you  aim  at  the  flock ; 
and  that  you  have  indeed  curam  animarnm.^ 

You  see  how  free  I  am  with  you,  but  I  know  your  can- 
dour. 

I  rejoice  in  your  happy  yoke-fellow  ;  salute  her  from 
your  old  friend ;  and  accept  the  unfeigned  respects  of  him 
who  is.  Sir, 

Your  real  and  faithful  friend, 

Joseph  Alleine. 

♦  It  has  been  proved.  t  The  care  of  souls. 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  267 

LETTER  XLIII. 

[Prison  Comforts.] 
To  a  JVIinister  in  Prison. 

Worthy  Sir, — I  owe  you  a  letter,  aud  more  than  a  let- 
ter for  your  particular  respects  to  me,  your  brotherly  sym- 
pathy, your  multiplied  and  earnest  prayers,  your  tenderness 
of  my  health,  your  welcome  jewel  in  Mr.  Ruth's  letters,  from 
which  I  trust  my  soul  aud  others  may  reap  no  small  benefit. 
Much  more  do  I  owe  you  for  your  common  respects  to  the 
people  of  my  desires  ;  and  not  only  to  them,  but  to  the 
whole  church  of  God  ;  in  all  whose  concernments,  I  see, 
you  are  concerned.  Your  indefatigable  labours  with  us  we 
do  with  all  thankfulness  accept,  as  the  undoubted  evidence 
of  your  great  love  :  For  all  which,  may  He  requite  you  who 
will  shortly  say  :  Inasmuch  as  thou  didst  it  unto  the  least 
of  these  my  brethren,  thou  didst  it  unto  me  ! 

It  was  but  a  little  after  my  release  from  my  own  confine- 
ment that  I  heard  of  yours  ;  and  now  write  to  you,  as  one 
that  hath  taken  a  higher  degree  than  ever,  and  more  truly 
honourable,  being  commenced  prisoner  of  Christ.  I  was  once 
affected  with  the  picture  of  a  devout  man,  to  whom  a  voice 
came  down  from  heaven,  saying.  Quid  vis  fieri  pro  te  ?*  To 
which  he  answered,  JWiil,  domine,  nisi  pati  ac  contemni  joro 
te  ?j  Undoubtedly,  Sir,  it  is  our  real  glory  to  be  throughout, 
conformed  to  Jesus  Christ,  not  only  in  his  sanctity,  but  in 
his  sufferings.  Paul  counted  all  things  but  dung  for  this, 
that  he  might  win  Christ,  &c.  and  know  the  fellowship  of 
his  sufferings,  and  be  made  comformable  to  his  death.  I 
doubt  not  but  your  consolations  in  Christ  do  much  more 
than  superabound  in  all  your  tribulations  for  him  :  Yet  let 
me  add  this  one  cordial,  That  now  you  have  a  whole  shoal  of 
promises  come  into  you,  which  you  had  not  before  ;  I  mean 
all  the  promises  to  suffering  saints  in  which  they  have  not 
so  immediate,  but  only  a  remoter   right,  unless  in  a  suffer- 

*  What  wouldst  thou  that  I  should  do  for  thee. 

t  Nothing  Lord,  except  that  I  may  suffer  and  be  despised  for  thee. 


268  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XLIII.) 

ing  state.  And  doubtless  he  hath  gotten  well,  that  hath  got- 
ten such  a  number  of  exceeding  great  and  precious  promis- 
es. If  the  men  of  the  world  do  so  rejoice  when  such  or  such 
an  estate  is  tallen  to  them  ;  should  not  you  much  more,  that 
have  such  a  treasure  of  promises  tallen  to  you? 

I  can  tell  you  little  good  of  myself;  but  this  I  can  tell 
you,  That  the  promises  of  God  were  never  so  sweet  in  this 
world  to  me,  as  in  and  since  my  imprisoned  state.  Oh  the 
bottomless  riches  of  the  covenant  of  grace  !  It  shames  me 
that  I  have  let  such  a  treasure  lie  by  so  long,  and  have  made 
so  little  use  of  it.  Never  did  my  soul  know  the  heaven  of  a 
believer's  life,  till  I  learnt  to  live  a  life  of  praise,  and  by 
more  frequent  consideration  to  set  home  the  unspeakable 
riches  of  the  divine  promises,  to  which  I  trust,  through 
grace,  I  am  made  an  heir.  I  verily  perceive,  that  all  our 
work  were  done  at  once,  if  we  could  but  prevail  with  our- 
selves  and  others  to  live  like  believers  ;  to  tell  all  the  world 
by  our  course  and  carriage,  that  there  is  such  a  pleasantness 
in  Christ's  ways,  such  beauty  in  holiness,  such  reward  to 
obedience,  as  we  profess  to  believe.  May  ours  and  our  peo- 
ple's conversations  but  preach  this  aloud  to  the  worW — That 
there  is  a  reality  in  what  God  hath  promised ;  that  heaven 
is  worth  the  venturing  for;  that  the  sufferings  of  the  present 
time  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory  which 
shall  be  revealed  in  us  ! 

Yerily,  8ir,  it  is  but  a  very  Uttle  while  that  prisons  shall 
hold  us,  or  that  we  shall  dwell  in  dirty  flesh.  Porphyry  tells 
us  of  Photinus,  that  he  was  ashamed  to  see  himself  in  the 
body  ;  to  see  a  divine  and  iu:  mortal  soul  in  a  prison  of  flesh 
(for  so  they  held  the  body  to  be);  but  the  worst  shackles  are 
those  of  sin.  Well,  they  must  shortly  oflTall  together  ;  our 
Lord  doth  not  long  intend  us  for  the  lower  region  :  Surely 
he  is  gone  to  prepare  a  place  for  us.  Doubtless  it  is  so  ;  yea, 
and  he  will  come  again,  and  receive  us  to  himself,  that 
where  he  is,  we  may  be  also.  And  what  have  we  to  do, 
but  to  believe,  and  wait,  and  love,  and  long,  and  lookout  for 
his  coming,  in  which  is  all  our  hope  ?  It  will  be  time  enough 
for  us  to  be  preferred  theu.  We  knov/  beforehand  who  shall 
then  be  uppermost.  Our  Lord  hath  shewed  us  where  our 
place  shall  be,  even  at  his  own  right  hand  ;  and  what  he  will 
say  to  us,  Come,  ye  blessed,  kc.  Surely,  we  shall  stand  in 
his  judgment.  He  hath  promised  to  stand  our  friend.  Let 
us  look  for  the  joyful  day  :  As  sure  as  there  is  a  God,  this 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  269 

day  will  come  ;  and  then  it  shall  go  well  with  us.  What !  if 
bonds  and  banishments  abide  us  for  a  season  ?  This  is  no- 
thing but  what  our  Lord  hath  told  us,  The  world  shall  rejoice, 
but  ye  shall  lament :  You  shall  be  sorrowfuU  but  your  sorrow 
shall  be  turned  into  joy.  Oh  how  reviving  are  his  words  ! 
I  will  see  you  again,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice,  and  your 
joy  no  man  taketh  from  yon. 

If  that  miserable  wretch  leaped  cheerfully  off  the  ladder, 
saying,  I  shall  be  a  queen  in  hell ;  with  what  joy  should  we 
do  and  suffer  for  God,  who  have  his  truth  in  pawn,  that  we 
shall  be  crowned  in  heaven  ?  Verily,  they  are  wonderful 
preparations  that  are  making  for  us:  The  Lord  prepare  us 
apace,  and  make  us  meet  to  be  partakers  !  It  was  the  high- 
est commendation  that  ever  that  worthy,  R.  Baxter,  receiv- 
ed, which  fell  from  the  pen  of  his  scoffing  adversary  Tilen- 
us,  who  saith  of  him.  He  breathes  nothing  but  Puritanism. 
Oh  that  this  may  be  true  of  us  and  ours  ! 

Let  your  true  yoke-tellow,  and  my  christian  friends  with 
you  in  the  bonds  of  the  gospel,  have  my  hearty  commenda- 
tions. And  these  counsels,  I  pray  you,  give  them  from  me, 
for  the  improving  of  their  present  state  : 

1.  To  habituate  themselves  both  as  to  their  thoughts  and 
discourses,  more  thoroughly  than  ever  into  holiness.  Bre- 
thren, I  would  teach  you  the  lessen  that  I  resolve  to  U arn 
with  you, — That  your  minds  and  tongues  may  as  natu- 
rally run  on  the  things  of  heaven,  as  others  on  the  things  of 
this  world.  Why  should  it  not  be  thus  ?  I  am  sure,  God 
and  heaven  do  as  well  deserve  to  be  thought  on,  and  talked 
of,  by  us,  as  froth  and  vanity  can  deserve  of  the  world. 
There  are  many  that  have  in  a  great  measure  learned  this 
lesson,  and  why  should  not  vve  be  some  of  them  ?  What !  if 
it  be  hard  at  first  ?  Every  thing  is  so  to  a  beginner.  Besides, 
is  not  ours  a  religion  of  self-denial?  Further,  if  we  do  but 
force  ourselves  awhile  to  holy  thoughts  and  heavenly  dis- 
course, it  will  grow  habitual  to  us,  and  then  it  will  be  most 
natural,  familiar  and  heavenly  sweet.  Oh  what  gainers  will 
you  be,  if  you  do  but  learn  this  lesson  ! 

Verily,  it  is  the  shame  of  religion,  that  christians  are  so 
unlike  themselves,  unless  upon  their  knees.  Sirs,  our  lives 
and  language  should  tell  the  world  what  we  are,  and  whither 
we  are  going.  Christians,  let  little  things  content  you  in 
the  world,  but  aspire  after  great  things  in  the  grace  of  God. 
Many  real  christians  do  little  think  what  high  frames  of  ho- 


270  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (leT.   XLIII.) 

liness  they  might  grow  up  to,  even  in  this  life,  with  pains 
and  diligence.  Sirs,  be  you  men  of  great  designs  :  Think 
it  not  enough  if  you  have  wherewith  to  bear  your  charges  to 
heaven  ;  but  aspire  with  a  holy  ambition  to  be  great  in  the 
court  of  heaven,  favourites  of  the  Most  High,  of  tall  growth, 
great  experience,  singular  communion,  that  you  may  burn 
and  shine  in  your  places,  and  convince  the  world  ;  that  you 
may  savour  of  heaven  wherever  you  come  ;  and  that  there 
may  be  an  even-spun  thread  of  holiness  running  through 
your  whole  course. 

It  is  the  disgrace  of  profession  that  there  is  so  litile  differ- 
ence to  be  seen  in  the  ordinary  conversation  of  believers  from 
other  men.  Is  it  not  a  shame,  that  when  we  are  in  compa- 
ny with  others,  this  should  be  all  the  difference  that  is  to  be 
seen, — only  that  we  will  not  curse  and  swear  as  do  the  worst 
of  men?  Christians,  if  you  will  honour  the  gospel,  bring 
forth  yonr  reliijion  out  of  your  closets  (the  world  cannot  see 
what  you  do  there),  into  your  shops,  trades,  visits,  &c.  and 
exemplify  the  rules  of  religion  in  the  management  of  all 
your  relations,  and  in  your  ordinary  converse.  Let  there 
be  no  place  or  company  that  you  come  into,  in  which  you 
do  not  drop  something  of  God  ;  This  will  be  the  glory  of 
religion  ;  and  we  shall  never  convince  the  world  till  we 
come  to  this.  May  you  come  my  brethren  out  of  your  pri- 
sons, with  your  faces  shining,  having  your  minds  seasoned, 
and  your  tongues  tipt  with  holiness  !  May  your  mouths  be  as 
a  well  of  life,  from  whence  may  flow  the  holy  stream  of  edify- 
ing discourse!  May  you  ever  remember,  as  you  are  sitting 
in  your  houses,  going  by  the  way,  lying  down,  rising  up, 
what  the  Lord  doth  then  require  of  you  !  (Deut.  vi.  7.) 

2.  Tn  improve  their  present  retirements  from  the  world, 
for  the  se!tli7ig  of  their  spiritual  estates.  It  is  a  common 
complaint  amongst  christians,  That  they  want  assurance. 
Oh.  if  any  of  you  that  wanted  assurance  when  you  came  to 
prison,  may  carry  that  blessing  out,  what  happy  gainers 
would  you  be  !  Now  you  are  called,  more  than  ever,  to  self- 
searching.  Now  bring  your  graces  to  the  touchstone.  Be 
much  in  self-observation.  See  what  your  hearts  do  with 
most  love  and  delight  go  out  unto;  what  are  your  greatest 
nopes  and  your  chief  designs.  See  whether  God*s  interest 
be  uppermost  in  you:  Prove  this,  and  prove  all.  Rest  not 
in  probable  hopes.  Think  not  that  it  is  enough  that  you  can 
say,  You  hope  it  is  ivell,  God  looks  for  extraordinary  things 


THE    KEV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  271 

from  you  under  such  great  helps,  such  extraordiiiary  dispen- 
sations. Be  restless  till  you  can  say.  that  You  know  it  is 
well ;  that  you  know  you  are  passed  Ji  om  death  io  life. 

Think  not  that  this  is  a  privilege  that  only  a  few  may 
expect.      Observe  but  these  three  things  : 

1.  To  acquaint  yourselves  thoroughly  with  the  conditions 
of  life,  and  take  heed  of  laying  the  marks  of  salvation  either 
too  high  or  too  low. 

2.  To  be  much  in  observing  the  frame,  and  bent,  and  work, 
ings  of  your  own  hearts. 

3.  To  be  universally  conscientious,  and  to  be  constant  in 
even  and  close  walkings  ;  and  then  I  doubt  not  but  you  will 
grow  up  speedily  to  a  settled  assurance,  and  know  and  feel 
that  peace  of  God  that  passeth  all  understanding  :  And  this 
will  be  somewhat  worth  your  carrying  out  of  prison. 

But  I  return  to  yourself.  But  what  shall  I  say?  I  have 
more  need  to  receive  from  you,  than  abiliiy  to  give ;  only  I 
will  tell  you  my  wishes  for  you  :  I  wish  that  your  body  may 
prosper,  as  your  soul  also  prospereth.  I  wish  that  you  may 
see  the  travail  of  your  soul ;  that  you  may  find  your  people 
thriving  under  your  hands  in  all  manner  of  holy  conversa- 
tion and  godliness,  that  whosoever  converses  with  them,  may 
see  and  hear  by  them  That  God  is  in  them  of  a  truth,  I 
wish  your  enlargement  from  your  bonds,  and  your  enlarge- 
ment in  them  ;  that  your  prison  may  be  but  the  lanthorn, 
through  which  your  graces,  experiences,  communion,  and 
prison-attainments,  may  shine  most  brightly  to  all  beholders. 
I  wish  your  prison  may  be  a  paradise  of  peace,  and  a  Pat- 
mos  of  divine  discoveries.  Lord  Jesus  set  to  thy  Amen  ? 
I  am  Sir, 
Your  unworthy  brother  and  companion 
In  the  kingdom  and  patience  of  Jesus, 

Joseph  Alleine. 
lOth  January,  1664. 


272  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.    XLlV.) 


LETTER  XLIV. 

[Directions  to  the  Ministers  of  Somersetshire  and  Wiltshire,  for  the  in- 
structing of  families  by  of  way  catechising.] 

Sir, — 1  his  letter  cometh  to  you,  like  the  men  of  Macedo- 
nia to  Paul,  crying  to  you.  Come  and  help  us;  O  how  in- 
sufficient do  we  find  ourselves  for  the  praises  of  God  !  What 
reason  have  we  to  call  upon  ourselves  and  to  call  upon  all 
our  friends  !  And  yet  we  f(jresee  that  all  will  be  too  little  a 
sacrifice  at  last,  and  too  slender  a  return  to  the  Most  High 
God,  who  hath  made  us  such  wonders  of  mercy,  and  such 
signal  instances  of  his  divine  power  and  rich  grace.  You 
are  not  ignorant  of  our  estate,  how  the  sentence  of  death 
had  passed  upon  us  ;  how  our  flesh  and  our  hearts  failed, 
and  friends  and  physicians  gave  up  their  hopes.  But  God, 
that  raised  the  dead,  was  pleased  to  make  us  the  monuments 
of  his  wondrous  mercy.  0  that  the  same  God  would  make 
us  the  special  instruments  of  his  praise  and  glory  ! 

Of  a  truth.  Sir,  we  perceive  our  hearts  are  too  little,  our 
tongues  are  too  short,  our  expressions  are  too  low,  either  to 
conceive  or  to  utter  what  we  owe  to  the  Great  God.  0  help ! 
help  !  Bless  the  Lord,  O  our  souls  !  Bless  the  Lord,  0  our 
friends  !  0  that  all  that  have  wrestled  with  God  for  us, 
might  join  hand  in  hand,  to  make  some  suitable  returns  to 
the  God  of  our  lives,  ahd  may  bring  in  every  one  his  sacri- 
fice, and  all  contribute  to  make  one  common  stock  of  praises, 
that  many  thanksgivings  may  abound  to  God  on  our  behalfs. 
O  what  hath  prayer  done  for  us  !  While  we  live  we  must 
honour  prayer,  and  admire  the  power  of  prayer :  we  owe  our 
limbs  and  our  lives  to  prayer.  O  that  a  goodly  crop  of  praise 
may  grow  up  unto  God,  as  a  return  for  his  mercies  :  that 
the  seed  of  prayers,  and  showers  of  tears,  may  procure  sheaves 
of  joy,  and  songs  of  deliverance. 

But  0  what  shall  we  render  ?  Wherewithal  shall  we  come 
before  the  Lord,  or  bow  ourselves  to  the  Most  High  God? 
Oh,  where  shall  we  find  a  fitting  sacrifice?  Verily  we  will 
give  ourselves  and  our  all  to  him.  But  alas,  what  are  we, 
and  what  is  this  little  that  we  call  ^^ our  all  V^  Therefore 
have  we  found  in  our  hearts  to  write  to  you  and  others,  that 


THE    REV.    JOSEPH    ALLEINE.  273 

we  might  excite  you  to  the  divine  praises  with  us.  And  O 
that  the  Lord  might  be  loved  the  better,  and  glorified  the 
more  tor  our  sakes !  Will  you  tell  us  wherein  we  may  shew 
our  love  to  him  1  Wherein  we  may  best  please  and  serve 
him  ?  O  that  you  would  !  Herein,  assuredly,  you  would 
most  highly  gratify  us.  0  that  we  might  do  some  singular 
thing  lor  God  ;  for  certainly  they  are  not  common  things 
that  he  hath  done  for  us. 

We  pray  you  call  upon  those  that  fear  the  Lord,  to  help 
us  in  celebrating  his  loving  kindness.  O  how  it  pleaseth 
our  very  hearts  to  think  that  God  should  be  loved  and  hon- 
oured the  better  for  us :  that  we  may  be  instruments,  if  it 
be  but  for  the  blowing  up  of  one  flash,  nay  the  kindling  of 
one  spark,  of  divine  love  in  the  hearts  of  his  children  towards 
him  !  Sir,  you  cannot  pleasure  us  in  any  thing  so  much  as 
in  this,  to  love  and  admire  God,  and  spread  his  praise  more 
and  more  ;  that  what  is  wanting  through  our  weakness  may 
be  made  up  in  your  abundance.  But  we  have  need  to  crave 
your  pardon  for  our  length  ;  but  the  love  of  Christ  constrain- 
eth  us,  and  we  hope  you  will  pass  by  an  error  of  love. 

While  we  have  been  devising  what  to  do  for  our  God,  we 
thought  we  could  no  way  better  serve  him,  than  by  pro- 
voking such  as  you  are  to  set  up  his  great  name  with  us. 
We  love  and  honour  you,  not  only  as  you  are  a  member,  but 
a  minister  of  Christ  Jesus  our  Lord,  and  therefore  deserve  to 
be  doubly  dear  unto  us  :  And  because  we  could  think  of  no 
more  pleasing  a  sacrifice  of  thanksgiving,  we  have  stirred  up 
ourselves  and  friends  with  us,  to  send  to  you  a  prophet  in 
the  name  of  a  prophet,  this  poor  token  of  love,  which,  though 
but  snmll,  yet  we  trust  will  be  a  sweet  savour  unto  God, 
and  will  be  accepted  with  you,  being  our  two  mites  cast  into 
God's  treasury.  But  look  not  upon  yourself  as  obliged  to  us 
hereby  :  But  put  it  upon  the  account  of  Christ,  to  whose 
precious  name  we  dedicate  it,  and  from  whom  (^although  he 
be  so  much  already  beforehand  with  us,  yet)  we  expect  a 
recompense  at  the  resurrection  of  the  just. 

And  being  further  desirous  to  promote  the  work  of  God 
iu  our  low  and  slender  capacities,  we  have  been  bold  to  pro- 
voke yourself,  with  others  our  fathers  and  brethern  in  the 
ministry,  to  set  about  that  necessary  and  much  neglected 
work  of  catechising  ;  not  a  little  pleasing  ourselves  in  the 
sweet  hope,  that  by  your  means  we  may  be  instrumental 
to  spread  the  sweet  savour  of  the  knowledge  of  our  God  in 

24 


274  CHRISTIAN    LETTERS    BY  (lET.  XLIV.  ) 

every  place  :  And  being  well  persuaded  of  your  readiness 
to  forward  so  blessed  a  work,  we  have  stirred  up  ourselves 
and  our  friends  to  expend  a  considerable  sum  of  money,  to 
furnish  ministers  with  catechisms,  a  hundred  whereof  we 
have  sent  unto  you,  beseechingyou  to  use  your  best  prudence 
and  utmost  diligence  for  the  spreading  of  them,  and  for  others' 
improvement  by  them,  that  our  labour  and  charge  in  so  good 
a  work  prove  not  at  last  of  no  effect. 

Sir,  we  shall  humbly  propose  unto  you,  but  not  impose 
upon  you.  But  let  us  be  bold  with  you  in  Christ,  to  lay 
our  requests  before  you  as  touching  this  concernment,  they 
being  indeed  what  judicious  friends  and  brethren  have  thought 
fit  to  propound. 

1.  That  the  people  be  publicly  and  privately  instructed 
about  the  high  necessity  and  great  usefulness  of  this  duty. 

2.  That  these  catechisms  be  freely  given  to  all  that  will 
promise  to  use  them. 

3.  That  you  would  be  pleased  to  acquaint  yourself  with 
all  the  schools  that  are  within  your  verge  ;  and  that  you 
would  do  your  utmost  to  engage  the  teachers  thereof  to  teach 
their  scholars  this  catechism  ;  and  that  you  would  furnish 
all  their  scholars  that  are  capable  and  willing  to  learn. 

4.  That  you  will  endeavour,  from  house  to  house,  to  en- 
gage the  master  or  mistress  of  every  family,  for  the  forward- 
ing of  this  work. 

5.  That  you  will  appoint  set-times  wherein  to  take  an  ac- 
count of  the  proficiency  of  all  such  as  have  promised  to  learn  ; 
and  that,  if  it  may  be,  they  may  be  engaged  to  learn  week- 
ly a  proportion,  according  to  their  capacities. 

6.  That  you  would  favour  us  so  far,  as  to  let  us  know  as 
speedily  as  you  may,  of  the  receipt  of  these  lines  ;  and  if 
we  may  presume  so  far  upon  you,  we  pray  you  to  indulge 
us  some  assurance  under  your  hand, — that  you  will  to  your 
power  promote  this  happy  design,  and  that  by  our  Lady-day 
next  you  will  acquaint  Mr.  Bernard  what  progress  is  made. 

Sir,  our  souls  will  even  travail  in  birth  for  the  success  of 
this  undertaking ;  and  therefore  we  request  you,  for  the  love 
of  God,  and  by  the  respect  which  we  are  persuaded  you  bear 
to  us,  that  you  will  labour  to  comfort  and  encourage  us  in 
our  endeavours  for  God,  which  you  can  no  way  in  the  world 
do  so  well  as  by  letting  us  see,  that  there  is  some  bless- 
ed fruit  of  our  cost  and  pains  ;  and  that  we  have  not  run  in 
vain,  nor  labourd  in  vain.     Tf  there  be  any  of  these  cate- 


THE  REV.  JOSEPH  ALLEINE.  275 

chisms  remaining  in  your  hands  that  you  cannot  dispose  of 
by  our  Lady-day,  be  pleased  to  send  them  to  Mr.  Bernard, 
or  to  Mr.  Rositer  in  Taunton.  If  you  should  need  any  more, 
give  us  speedy  notice,  and  you  shall  not  fail  to  be  furnished 
with  what  number  you  desire. 

Thus  upon  the  bended  knees  of  our  thankful  souls,  we 
commend  our  poor  sacrifices,  together  with  yourself,  to  the 
eternal  God,  and  remain, 

Christ's  devoted  servants,  and  your  friends, 

Joseph  Bernard, 
Joseph  Alleine. 


FINIS. 


DATE  DUE 

CAYLORO 

miNTBOINO.S.A. 

Theological  Semmary-Spee 


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